The Center City Jazz Festival is returning after a three year hiatus. The Festival’s Saturday Marathon will take place on Saturday, April 22, 2023. The Marathon will feature 20 bands performing across five venues, within short walking distance of each other. Wristbands will be given to all ticket-holders, who will then have access to every venue. Shows are first come, first served.

The Center City Jazz Festival is presented by WRTI 90.1. The festival is also supported by PECO, Jazz Philadelphia, and Turtle Studios.

The inaugural Center City Jazz Festival took place in 2012 and featured original bands from the Philadelphia and NYC areas. Jazz lovers came out for an exhilarating day of great music. The bands performed in packed venues, which were all centrally located in downtown Philadelphia. The 2012 Festival was made possible through an innovative Kickstarter campaign, spearheaded by Ernest Stuart.