Cork Airport strikes the right note with Guinness Cork Jazz Festival partnership

Cork Airport has renewed its support for the 47th Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, bringing live music to the terminal and cementing a partnership that has welcomed jazz legends to the county for nearly five decades.

The October Bank Holiday weekend festival (23-27 October) will feature over 500 musicians performing across 100 events at 80 venues, including the arrivals area at Cork Airport. The event, now worth an estimated €45 million to the local economy, continues the airport's proud association with the festival since its inception in 1978.

This year's impressive lineup includes Cymande, JP Cooper, Maverick Sabre, the Adrian Younge Orchestra and Lee Fields & The Expressions. Irish talent features prominently, with performances from Tolü Makay, The Tumbling Paddies, Luke Thomas & The Swing Cats, and Cork's very own The Sultans of Ping taking to various stages across the bank holiday weekend.

The airport will host free live performances in its terminal on Friday 24, Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October as part of the festival's "Big Fringe" programme, which extends jazz performances beyond the city centre to suburbs, Kinsale and the airport itself. These complement the traditional free outdoor performances at Emmet Place and the iconic Jazz Parade.

Cork Airport has welcomed numerous jazz legends over the decades, including Kenny Ball, Ronnie Scott, Cleo Laine, Spike Robinson, Humphrey Littleton and the "Queen of Jazz", Ella Fitzgerald, reinforcing its role as the international gateway to this celebrated cultural event.

Niall MacCarthy, Cork Airport Managing Director:

"The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival is an icon of the tourism and music calendar in Cork for decades. We are really proud of our nearly 50-year association with this wonderful feast of jazz, which brings visitors, both domestic and international to our city and region each year."

Fiona Collins, Chair of the Cork Jazz Festival:

"We're thrilled to continue our partnership with Cork Airport, whose continued support helps us welcome the world to Cork each October. The Cork Jazz Festival is a kaleidoscope of sound and colour, filling our streets, venues and hearts with brass and joy."

The partnership comes through Cork Airport's Community Fund 2025, which supports local organisations promoting arts, culture, education, tourism and sports. Europe's best regional airport welcomed 3.1 million passengers in 2024, representing 10% growth, with over 3.4 million passengers forecast for 2025.

Cork Airport's commitment to the festival reflects its broader role in the county's cultural landscape. A €200 million capital development programme, announced by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin in May 2025, will support growth beyond 5 million passengers per annum in the coming years.

For festival information, visit guinnesscorkjazz.com.