Champaign-Urbana’s next run of live jazz begins Wednesday, October 14, with the CU Jazz Festival listing performances through Sunday, October 18, 2026.

For listeners looking for a free starting point, the Kyle Swan Quartet plays Krannert Center’s Stage 5 on Thursday, October 15, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The week moves between a campus lobby, downtown Urbana venues and a Sunday brunch in Champaign, so choosing a performance also means choosing a setting.

That is the useful distinction for residents making plans: this is a schedule of separate outings, with different locations and admission arrangements, rather than one event in a single room.

Details below were checked against organizer and venue pages on October 13; all performance times are local Central Time.

Five days, several ways to listen

The official 2026 lineup opens with Joni Mitchell Revisited at the Rose Bowl on Wednesday, October 14, from 5 to 7 p.m.

The project features new arrangements for a festival nonet, giving familiar songs a different ensemble setting.

Thursday’s Kyle Swan Quartet listing runs from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Krannert Center.

Leap Day Trio follows Friday, October 16, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Gallery ArtBar, with Matt Wilson, Jeff Lederer and Mimi Jones.

Allison Philips 4tet is listed at the same venue Saturday, October 17, from 6 to 8 p.m.

The festival’s current home page identifies Gallery ArtBar’s address as 119 West Main Street in Urbana.

Sunday’s Beto Rodrigues Duo Jazz Brunch moves to Maize at 100 North Chestnut Street in downtown Champaign.

For a workable weeknight plan, choose the performance that fits your arrival time first, then check the venue’s entry and admission details.

Do not assume Thursday’s free admission applies to every other stop on the festival schedule.

A free Thursday performance at Krannert

Krannert’s Kyle Swan Quartet event page confirms free admission and places the concert at Stage 5 in the lobby.

The venue describes Swan as a Chicago-based drummer whose performance and recording experience includes work with Kurt Elling, Brian Lynch, Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Paquito D’Rivera.

That background gives the listing context without revealing Thursday’s set list, which the page does not supply.

The appeal for a first-time listener is straightforward: a scheduled live performance without a ticket price to weigh against an unfamiliar program.

Free admission does not promise a particular seat, a private table or any refreshment, so keep those expectations separate.

If you are inviting someone who has not visited Krannert before, share the full venue name and the lobby location rather than only the festival title.

The campus performing arts center and downtown festival venues are different destinations.

A clear meeting point matters more than trying to fit every show into one plan.

Photo by Rene Terp on Pexels. Illustrative stock photo; not the CU Jazz Festival or its performers.

Know the garage rules before arriving

Krannert Center is at 500 South Goodwin Avenue in Urbana, and its directions and parking guide describes garage entrances off Illinois Street to the north and Oregon Street to the south.

The venue states that underground garage parking is free after 5 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends.

That after-5 rule is relevant to Thursday’s 5:30 p.m. start, but an earlier arrival requires checking the rules for the space you use.

Do not treat a street meter as part of the underground garage arrangement; the venue lists separate street enforcement hours.

Allow enough time to enter the building and find Stage 5 instead of treating the concert time as your intended parking time.

If you plan to use a bus, check the current route and return trip before leaving.

Save the venue address and your chosen entrance on your phone so the trip home does not depend on remembering which side of the building you used.

Sunday brunch has a separate ticket

The festival lists the Beto Rodrigues Duo performance Sunday, October 18, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., with doors at 11 a.m.

The organizer-linked Jazz Brunch ticket page lists general admission at $27, including tax, a special festival menu and one drink.

It also states that seating is first come.

Those terms make brunch a different decision from the free lobby concert: check the ticket page before purchasing and confirm any food questions directly with the organizer or venue.

Do not infer a full menu, a reserved table or a particular drink selection from the brief listing.

If you are going with a group, coordinate the ticket purchase and arrival plan together.

A purchased ticket and first-come seating are separate facts, so discuss the arrangement before promising friends that a particular table will be available.

Availability can change after this guide is published.

Ask about access before the day of the show

Krannert’s accessibility guidance describes elevator access from all four garages and street-level accessible entrances on the north and south sides.

The venue also lists an assisted listening system in the lobby, with headsets available to check out without charge.

For questions about those services, Patron Services is reachable at 217-333-9716.

The page requests two weeks’ notice for certain accommodations; because Thursday is close, contact staff promptly to ask what can be arranged.

Use that conversation to confirm your route and the services relevant to this specific lobby event rather than assuming theatre seating guidance applies.

For other festival venues, ask each location about its own access and entry arrangements.

Before heading out, recheck the official lineup, confirm the admission terms for your chosen show and leave time for arrival.

One well-planned performance is enough to take part in the week, and Thursday’s free quartet gives residents a clear place to begin.