What is the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival?

The Riviera Maya Jazz Festival (RMJF) is a jazz music festival that’s held every year in late November in Playa del Carmen.

It’s been produced by Fernando Tousaint since 2003, with the support of the municipal institute of culture and arts, and it’s already considered to be one of the best jazz festivals in the world, with more than 50,000 visitors.

It started out as the Riviera Maya Latin Jazz Festival, but was later shortened to the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival to reflect its international and inclusive character.

Jazz Festival 2025 edition

No dates or list of this year’s participating artists have been announced yet.

20th edition of the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival.

Venue

Riviera Maya Jazz Festival

Jazz Festival Stage. Photo by RivieraMaya.mx.

This festival is free, open-air and takes place in the best possible setting: the beaches of the Riviera Maya, specifically in front of Mamita’s beach club in Playa del Carmen.

The stage, lighting and sound are all at the height of this international event and provide the ideal platform for national and international artists to share with us the best of their music.

You can usually sit on a towel in front of the stage and enjoy the festival. Snacks and drinks are allowed.
Riviera Maya Jazz festival logo

Riviera Maya Jazz Festival Lineup

The Riviera Maya Jazz Festival lineup is always top-notch, bringing renowned icons of this music genre every year:

2024

2024 Edition

Not held.
2023

2023 Edition

Spanish Harlem Orchestra
Arturo Sandoval
Pedrito Martínez
Iraida Noriega
Chris Botti
Snarky Puppy
Antonio Sánchez y Aguamala
2022

2022 Edition

Not held.
2021

2021 Edition

Brian Skonberg
Elizabeth Meza
Ravi Coltrane
Luri Molina
Kurt Elling ft Charlie Hunter
Alex Campos
Dannah Garay
Roberto Verástegui
Zaicocirco
Giovanni Figueroa
20 varos
2020

2020 Edition

Digital Edition: Live broadcast on the festival’s official YouTube and Facebook.
Aguamala
Xamán
Elite Band
Diego Maroto Quartet
Memo Ruiz Flamenco Bolero
Pepe Hernández & Paco Rosas Quintet
2019

2019 Edition

Cucho Vandés Jazz Batá
Magos Herrera
Sr. Mandrill
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
Eliane Elias
Eliane Marrokin
UB40
pbUG
New York Voices
2018

2018 Edition

Kike Pat
Lori Williams & Bob Baldwin
Bebel Gilberto
Paco Rosas & PK Bnd
Cristina Morrison
Drew Tucker & The New Standard
Norah Jones
Pepe Hernández
Lalah Hathaway
Bobby McFerrin
2017

2017 Edition

Señor Vitalis
Bernardo Ron
Luis Ernesto Lopez
Zoar Miranda
Cecilia Toussaint
Illya Kuryaki and the Valderramas
Steffie Beltt
John McLaughlin
Jimmy Herring
4th Dimension Band
Memo Ruíz Bolero Jazz Big Band
Wallace Roney
Chick Corea
Béla Fleck
Bobby McFerrin
2016

2016 Edition

Steve Gadd Band
Paco Rosas
Gonzalo Rubalcaba (Volcán Trio)
Blood, Sweat & Tears
Bo Bice
Dylan Elise
Jeff Lorber
Fisura Fuky Band
Antonio Sanchez and Migration
Dirty Loops
Aguamala
Bill Evans
2015

2015 Edition

Gabriel Espinosa
Resorte
Alan Holdsworth
Sheila E.
Guacamole
Phil Perry
Dirty Loops
Zappa Plays Zappa
Torus
Tio Gus
Zawinul Legacy
2014

2014 Edition

Colin Hunter
Pato Machete
TAKE 6
Jorge Vercillo
Hiram Gómez
Pat Metheny Unity Band (Chris Potter, Antonio Sanchez, Ben Williams)
Kenny Garrett
Virgil Donati
Chick Corea & The Vigil
2013

2013 Edition

Aguamala
Brent Fischer
Celso Piña
Ed Motta
Earth, Wind & Fire
Frank Gambale
Matthew Garrison
Scott Henderson
Dennis Chambers & Jeff Berlin
Jim Beard

Richard Bona. Photo by RivieraMaya.mx.

Tickets

As always, the festival is free and open to all, so no ticket is needed. It usually lasts two or three days and starts around 7:00 pm.

There’s also a VIP section available, which has a bit less people and is relatively close to the stage. This costs around $1 USD.

Place

Mamitas Beach, in front of Mamita’s Beach Club. 28th street north and the beach, neighborhood Gonzalo Guerrero.

You can find a list of the artists and info about future editions of this great festival on the official website.