The San Diego Tijuana International Jazz Festival (SDTJ Jazz) returns for its second year on October 2, 4, and 5, 2025, and it is already being called one of the most anticipated music events of the year. With world-class performers, free outdoor concerts, and the rare opportunity to experience jazz on both sides of the border, the festival is more than a series of concerts. It is a cultural bridge that celebrates connection through music.
Co-founded by San Diego’s Daniel Atkinson and Tijuana’s Julian Plascencia, the festival was created to unite two vibrant regions and showcase the richness of jazz as an art form that transcends boundaries. Last year’s inaugural event drew more than 4,000 fans across San Diego and Tijuana, and this year the programming is expanding with an even stronger lineup that blends internationally recognized artists, rising stars, and local talent.
The festival begins on Thursday, October 2, at Quartyard in San Diego’s East Village. The opening concert, free to attend, will feature the Irving Flores Afro-Cuban Jazz Sextet, The Less Likely, and the Binational Youth Ensemble, which combines students from San Diego’s Young Lions Jazz Conservatory and Baja California’s Instituto Contemporáneo de Música.
The centerpiece of the weekend arrives on Saturday, October 4, at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido. The ticketed performances include Grammy Award-winner Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Ensemble with the Fandango Fronterizo Colectivo, vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa, and Veracruz-born Lucía, winner of the 2022 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. An all-star tribute to saxophone legend and former San Diego resident James Moody will also take place, featuring David Sánchez, John Clayton, Gerald Clayton, Lewis Nash, Holly Hofmann, and Gilbert Castellanos. Outdoor performances in the center’s courtyard will be free to the public, allowing even more people to take part in the festivities.
The festival concludes on Sunday, October 5, with a free outdoor street concert in downtown Tijuana on Avenida Revolución. Performances will include Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Ensemble, the Irving Flores Afro-Cuban Sextet, Lucía, The Less Likely, and the Binational Youth Ensemble.
Practical details are straightforward. Thursday and Sunday’s concerts are free, while Saturday’s indoor performances range from $42 to $118.80. VIP passes are also available for $85, which include a hosted dinner and premium seating. Festival information and tickets can be found at sdtjjazz.org.
At a time when the U.S.-Mexico border is often portrayed as a line of division, the San Diego Tijuana International Jazz Festival highlights harmony, artistry, and shared cultural pride. With performances spread across San Diego, Escondido, and Tijuana, the festival offers a weekend of world-class music and cross-cultural celebration that promises to be one of the year’s highlights.
