If you’ve never heard a 22-piece Brazilian drum bloco turn a quiet Cape May street into a full-blown parade — buckle up. Exit Zero Jazz Festival 2026 is happening right now through Sunday, May 17, and it might be the best weekend on the Jersey Shore calendar.
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What Is Exit Zero Jazz Festival?
Exit Zero Jazz Festival transforms the entire city of Cape May, NJ into a live music venue every May. Main stages, outdoor patios, bars, clubs, and street corners — all of it becomes a stage. The festival runs May 15–17, 2026, daily from 12 PM to 7 PM, centered around Cape May Convention Hall at 714 Beach Ave. All ages welcome.
Who’s Playing in 2026?
This year’s lineup is stacked with jazz royalty and genre-bending acts:
- Miles Electric Band — celebrating the electric legacy of Miles Davis
- Ravi Coltrane — son of John Coltrane, carrying the tradition forward
- Carmen Lundy — Grammy-nominated vocalist and visual artist
- Walter Smith III — one of the most in-demand saxophonists in the world
- Gary Bartz — NEA Jazz Master and legend
- Davina and the Vagabonds — New Orleans soul meets barnstorming jazz
- Orrin Evans Trio
- Jeff “Tain” Watts — drummer who played with Wynton and Branford Marsalis
- Jose James — special Coltrane tribute set
- Bloco Funk — 22-piece Brazilian drum bloco (yes, seriously)
What to Expect
Exit Zero isn’t just a concert — it’s a full city experience. World-class jazz spills out of Convention Hall, rooftop sets catch the ocean breeze, and the street parade from Bloco Funk will stop you mid-sentence. One minute you’re listening to a quiet piano trio; the next, a 22-piece Brazilian drum corps rounds the corner and the whole block starts moving. The vibe shifts constantly and that’s entirely the point.
Tickets & Info
Today and Sunday are still wide open. Grab tickets and the full schedule at exitzerojazzfestival.com. All ages. Cape May Convention Hall, 714 Beach Ave, Cape May, NJ.
Making a Weekend of It? Stay in Wildwood Crest
Cape May is 20 minutes south of Wildwood Crest — easy day-trip territory. Sea Chest Motel puts you one block from the beach in Wildwood Crest, with easy access to both the Wildwood boardwalk and the Cape May shore corridor. Spend the day at Exit Zero, come back to the boardwalk at night. That’s a solid weekend.
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