Palace of the Grand Master hosts Rhodes jazz from 22 to 25 October
Published on 10/11/2026 at 06:36 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSKey points in brief
- The Rhodes and South Aegean International Jazz Festival takes place from 22 to 25 October 2026 at the Palace of the Grand Master in Rhodes.
- The Palace of the Grand Master hosts the festival opening on 22 October 2026 with the Sonny and Trane Tribute and the University of Cincinnati Jazz Faculty Ensemble.
- The Palace of the Grand Master was restored during the Italian occupation in the 1930s after an explosion partially destroyed it in 1856.
The Palace of the Grand Master in Rhodes hosts the Rhodes and South Aegean International Jazz Festival from 22 to 25 October 2026. The programme brings concerts, workshops and educational activities to the Medieval City, with the opening night inside the historic palace.
The festival is led artistically by Dimitrios Vasilakis and is presented as part of the Jazz Across the Water - Mediterranean Bridges initiative. The programme links musicians from several countries with universities, young performers and an academic conference in Rhodes.
Rhodes jazz festival opens at the palace on 22 October
The first concert evening is scheduled for Thursday 22 October 2026 at the Palace of the Grand Master. It begins with the Sonny and Trane Tribute, titled Fathers and Sons - Two Generations in Jazz, followed by the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Jazz Faculty Ensemble.
The festival continues elsewhere in the Medieval City on 23 and 24 October. The Church of the Virgin of the Burgh hosts New Generation Greek Jazz with Flowtet and the Mediterranean Ensemble on 23 October, followed by Afro Cuban Grooves and the RIJF All-Star International Band on 24 October. The Greek National Tourism Organisation lists admission as free and identifies the festival venue and dates in its programme for Rhodes jazz festival.
A medieval museum becomes a jazz venue in Rhodes
The building is closely tied to the history that surrounds the festival. It served as the administrative centre of the Order of the Knights of Saint John and is regarded by Greece's archaeological museums service as one of the most significant monuments of medieval Rhodes.
Construction began in the early fourteenth century, when the Knights of Saint John had settled on the island. An explosion partially destroyed the palace in 1856, and the complex was restored during the Italian occupation in the 1930s. The ground floor now contains permanent exhibitions on ancient and medieval Rhodes, while the upper floor displays mosaic floors and medieval furniture. That combination means the 22 October concert places contemporary jazz inside a building whose museum displays trace the city's history from its foundation in 408 BC to the Ottoman conquest in 1522, as described by the Greek archaeological museums service.
The 2026 programme crosses Rhodes medieval venues
The festival does not keep every event inside the palace. Its schedule uses the Church of the Virgin of the Burgh for the second and third concert nights, while MedMus - Mediterranean Improvisations is planned for 23 and 24 October in Rhodes.
This arrangement gives the palace a defined role rather than treating it as a general backdrop. It is the venue for the opening night, while the wider programme connects the concert with workshops, university collaborations and discussions about Mediterranean improvisation.
Visiting Palace of the Grand Master: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The festival runs from 22 to 25 October 2026; the palace concert programme is scheduled for 22 October 2026.
- Admission to the festival is free according to the Greek National Tourism Organisation. The listed palace programme begins with the Sonny and Trane Tribute and continues with the University of Cincinnati ensemble.
- The palace stands on the Street of the Knights in the Medieval City of Rhodes. The Hellenic Heritage directions place it on foot from the centre of Rhodes at Mandraki.
- Visitors encounter a historic complex with high walls, towers and a central open courtyard. The museum includes mosaic floors, medieval furniture and permanent exhibitions.
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Frequently asked questions about Palace of the Grand Master
When does the jazz festival take place at the Palace of the Grand Master?
The Rhodes and South Aegean International Jazz Festival takes place from 22 to 25 October 2026. The palace hosts the opening concert on 22 October 2026.
What is the Palace of the Grand Master?
It is a medieval complex that served as the administrative centre of the Order of the Knights of Saint John. It now contains museum exhibitions on ancient and medieval Rhodes.
Where is the Palace of the Grand Master and how do you get there?
It is on the Street of the Knights in the Medieval City of Rhodes. Hellenic Heritage describes it as reachable on foot from the centre of Rhodes at Mandraki.
