Make Music San José: Free Music Celebration for Everyone

Make Music San José is a vibrant annual celebration of music and community that takes place on June 21st, the summer solstice, coinciding with Make Music Day festivities across more than one thousand cities worldwide. The event embodies a democratic philosophy of music-making: the joy of making music with everyone who wants to take part, from professional to amateur musicians and the musically curious.

How It Works

The festival operates through an innovative matchmaking platform that connects artists with diverse venues throughout San Jose. Musicians create profiles showcasing their sound and genre preferences, while venues describe their spaces, capacity, and hosting preferences. This digital ecosystem enables organic partnerships between performers and performance spaces, democratizing access to both stages and audiences. The interactive map provided by the festival allows attendees to discover performances happening throughout the day and evening.

Venues & Programming

Performances occur across a variety of San Jose locations including community centers, public parks, restaurants, libraries, bars, churches, and street block parties. Featured performers represent genres ranging from classical and jazz to folk, soul, R&B, hip-hop, world music, and beyond. The 2026 lineup includes 26+ artists performing at 14 venues across the city, with events running at various times throughout June 21st. Notable performance locations include Levitt Pavilion San Jose, First Congregational Church of San Jose, multiple plazas along Paseo de San Antonio, and intimate neighborhood venues like the Wheelhouse of Willow Glen and N 12th St Blues.

Community Collaboration

All performances remain free and open to the public, with festival staff providing crucial support in finalizing performance details, securing necessary permits, and marketing the event through multiple channels. The event represents collaboration between the City of San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs, the NAMM Foundation, and numerous community partners, reflecting local commitment to arts accessibility and cultural celebration.