Palace of the Grand Master hosts Rhodes jazz from 22 October
Published on 10/18/2026 at 04:01 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
The Palace of the Grand Master in Rhodes hosts the Rhodes & South Aegean International Jazz Festival from 22 to 25 October 2026. The programme brings concerts, workshops and academic discussion to the Medieval City during four autumn days.
Rhodes jazz festival opens at the medieval palace
The festival, also presented under the title Jazz Across the Water - Mediterranean Bridges, is held under the artistic direction of Dimitrios Vasilakis. The Greek National Tourism Organisation lists the Palace of the Grand Master as the venue and states that admission is free.
The opening programme on 22 October 2026 begins with the Sonny & Trane Tribute, titled Fathers & Sons - Two Generations in Jazz. The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Jazz Faculty Ensemble follows later that evening. The official festival programme places both performances at the palace.
The remaining concert programme moves to the Church of the Virgin of the Burgh on 23 and 24 October 2026. It includes Flowtet, the Mediterranean Ensemble, Yaremi Kordos and Roland Abreu, and the RIJF All-Star International Band.
Jazz programme meets Rhodes history
The venue was the administrative centre of the Order of the Knights of Saint John, according to the Directorate of Archaeological Museums. Its first floor contains mosaic floors from monuments on the island and medieval furniture.
The building was restored during the Italian occupation in the 1930s. Its ground floor houses permanent exhibitions covering the history of Rhodes from its foundation in 408 BC to the Ottoman conquest in 1522, as recorded by the museum authority.
That setting gives the festival a specific connection to the site: its first concert places contemporary jazz beside rooms shaped by the palace's medieval and later history. The rest of the programme extends into another historic church within the same fortified city.
Alongside the music, the festival includes educational activities, workshops and collaborations with universities and young musicians. The MedMus - Mediterranean Improvisations conference takes place in Rhodes on 23 and 24 October 2026, linking research into improvisation with the live programme.
Visiting Palace of the Grand Master: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The festival runs from 22 to 25 October 2026. The palace hosts the opening concerts on 22 October, while further concerts are listed at the Church of the Virgin of the Burgh on 23 and 24 October.
- Admission to the festival is free. The palace is the venue for the opening night, but the programme does not place every festival activity inside the building.
- The palace is on Ippoton Street in the Medieval City of Rhodes. The museum authority identifies the address as Ippoton Str., Medieval Town, Rhodes 85100.
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Frequently asked questions about Palace of the Grand Master
When does the Rhodes jazz festival take place at the Palace of the Grand Master?
The Rhodes & South Aegean International Jazz Festival runs from 22 to 25 October 2026. The opening concerts at the palace take place on 22 October 2026.
What is the Palace of the Grand Master?
It is a former administrative centre of the Order of the Knights of Saint John and now houses museum exhibitions about Rhodes history.
Where is the Palace of the Grand Master and how do you get there?
The palace is on Ippoton Street in the Medieval City of Rhodes, Greece. The museum authority gives the address as Ippoton Str., Medieval Town, Rhodes 85100.
