Callander Jazz & Blues Festival

About Callander Jazz and Blues Festival

First held in 2006, Callander Jazz and Blues Festival reaches its 20-year edition in 2026. The music runs from 2–4 October across four venues in Callander, with jazz and blues sets rather than a single arena programme. Entry to performances is by donation.

Lineup and Programme

The bill is built around jazz and blues, with performances at Dalgair House, The Crown, Waverley Hotel and Riverside House. In 2025 the festival ran 66 gigs with over 160 musicians, so the programme works as a town crawl more than a fixed-position main-stage day. Lunchtime and evening sets are part of the 2026 format.

Who Is It For?

The crowd is mixed-age and music-led. Jazz and blues are the centre of it. The format suits people moving between rooms across Callander at their own pace, with sets running through lunchtime and into the evening.

The Venue and Site

Callander sits at the eastern gateway to Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. The festival uses the town centre itself, moving between Dalgair House, The Crown, Waverley Hotel and Riverside House rather than a single enclosed site. Public toilets are at Station Road Car Park.

McLaren Community Leisure Centre has a swimming pool, café, soft play area and sports hall. Nearby camping options include Callander Woods and Keltie Bridge Caravan Park, with camper-van and caravan chemical toilet emptying at Keltie Bridge Caravan Park.

Travel

Callander is in the Stirling region, about 16 miles from Stirling and around 40 miles from Glasgow. Dunblane and Stirling are the nearest rail options.

• Nearest stations: Dunblane train station is about 11 miles away; Stirling train station is about 17 miles away.
• Road: The A84 approaches from the east, the A81 from the west, and M9 Junction 10 connects via the A84.
• Parking: Station Road Car Park is the main town-centre parking reference, with the Meadows car park and Bracklinn Falls car park also mentioned locally.
• Bus and taxis: Callander has local taxis and a 59 bus service to Stirling.