The history of the festival dates back to the concert performed in Atatürk Kültür Merkezi in 1984 by Chick Corea and Steve Kujala within the Istanbul Festival, has gained a deserved reputation with over 300 concerts performed in lots of venues and clubs even the streets and squares of Istanbul by thousands of artists for the last
fourteen years.

Up to now, the festival has hosted many artists and bands such as Eric Clapton, Sting, Lou Reed, Bryan Ferry, Massive Attack, Björk, Dead Can Dance, Suzanne Vega, Bobby McFerrin, The Manhattan Transfer, Marcus Miller, Jan Garbarek, Keith Jarrett, Goran Bregovic, Tori Amos and Elvis Costello.

Istanbul Jazz Festival which has Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theatre Stage, Sepetçiler Summer Palace, Esma Sultan Waterside Mansion, Istanbul Modern, The Museum of Archaeology, Institut Français d’Istanbul, Istanbul Jazz Center and Nardis Jazz Club among its concert and show venues has not been confined to closed venues only.

One of the most important projects and innovations of the festival is the “Young Jazz” series. Young Jazz is an activity organised by IKSV within Istanbul Jazz Festival to encourage amateur and young jazz musicians.Sponsored by Garanti Bank, International Istanbul Jazz Festival, that the 16th was held between 2nd and 15th of July, and turned Istanbul into a city of jazz with a special programme and great names.