The Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival opened its ninth year today, bringing four days of music, art, and culture to the historic village. Two of those days — Saturday and Sunday — are entirely free, with live performances on two outdoor stages expected to draw thousands of visitors.

This year's free lineup is all-Canadian, featuring nine bands at the Fort Langley Community Hall Main Stage spanning gypsy jazz, Indigenous contemporary music, soulful grooves, and a Joni Mitchell tribute. The Youth and Emerging Artist Stage in the gardens of the Fort Langley Heritage CNR Station will showcase the festival's 2026 Rising Stars, Bea Lagrisola and Rowan, alongside other emerging Canadian musicians.

Beyond the music, the weekend includes face painting, a colouring station, an art show from the Fort Langley Artists Group, and paid workshops in acrylic painting, Salish weaving, and Mehndi.

Ticketed headliner shows run across all four days. Thursday opened with the Daniel Hersog Orchestra alongside vocalist Joanna Wallfisch, followed by a sold-out Amy Winehouse tribute. Friday and Saturday feature the expanded Cool Blues Show at Fort Langley Community Park, now running two nights after last year's sellout. The festival closes Sunday night with Grammy-nominated, multi-Juno Award-winning vocalist Laila Biali performing alongside emerging artists.

The festival's free programming is at risk, however, if the current funding model remains unchanged. Rising operational costs, complex event planning requirements, and growing competition for sponsorship dollars are putting pressure on the festival.

"Whether you're attending a headline concert, discovering an emerging artist, or simply wandering through the village and taking in the music, art and culture, there's something for everyone," said Karen Zukas, executive director of the festival. "Keeping a festival like this accessible takes a community."