US Is Guest Country at 506 Jazz Fest

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COSTA RICA · FESTIVALS

The 506 Jazz Fest returns to San José, Costa Rica, from Thursday 19 to Saturday 21 November 2026, with the United States as guest country. The Ministry of Culture and Youth, which runs the festival, announced on Tuesday 27 October that admission is free.

For an American traveller, that means three evenings of live jazz in the capital with no ticket to buy. The number 506 is Costa Rica’s international phone code.

What the 506 Jazz Fest Is and Why It Matters

The 506 Jazz Fest is a state-backed festival in San José, now in its second edition. The first ran from 20 to 22 November 2025, and the ministry wants Costa Rica to have a jazz festival of its own.

This year the United States is the featured country, which the ministry ties to 250 years of American independence. It also marks 175 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The 506 Jazz Fest belongs to the ministry’s year-end programme Es Tiempo de Compartir (It Is Time to Share). Grupo INS, a Costa Rican insurance group, backs the programme.

The music mixes traditional and modern jazz with soul, funk, hip-hop, Latin rhythms and orchestral sounds. Most acts at the 506 Jazz Fest are Costa Rican, with a few guests from abroad.

Last year’s edition used five venues, including the National Theatre and several museums. This year the announced list is shorter, with two main stages in central San José.

The Lineup Night by Night

On Thursday 19 November at 8 p.m., the Big Band Juvenil of the national music institute plays with Eleonor Dubinsky, an American singer-songwriter. The opening night is at the Anfiteatro Fidel Gamboa.

On Friday 20 November at 6 p.m., the Costa Rican group MAZZK plays at the Dirección de Patrimonio Cultural, the ministry’s heritage office. The stage is on the Avenida Central boulevard.

At 8 p.m. that Friday, the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional (the national symphony orchestra) joins saxophonist Ed Calle and drummer Carlomagno Araya. They perform the Symphonic Jazz Project at the Anfiteatro Fidel Gamboa.

On Saturday 21 November at 7:30 p.m., the Pablo Campos Quinteto presents Por Media Calle at the heritage office. Guests are Mali and Rodrigo Sáenz.

At 8 p.m. at the Anfiteatro, Claudens Louis and The CieL Experience share the bill with Urban Jazz. That set comes from the Costa Rican acts Soultwo and Hot Quesadillas.

The two Saturday shows start 30 minutes apart in different places, so you must pick one. Set times and end times are not published.

Where the Music Happens in San José

The Anfiteatro Fidel Gamboa is part of the Centro Nacional de la Cultura (CENAC), a state arts complex in central San José. The heritage office stage sits on the Avenida Central boulevard, a pedestrian street through the old downtown.

We found no street address, seating capacity or entry gate for either stage, because the ministry’s pages are closed to automated reading. Look up both places in a maps app and ask your hotel desk for the walking route.

Both stages are in the central city, not at the airport or in the suburbs. Juan Santamaría International Airport, the main gateway, is in Alajuela province, north-west of the capital.

Staying in or near the centre lets you walk or take a short taxi ride to the 506 Jazz Fest. That keeps late-evening movement simple and avoids driving and parking.

The Art Fair That Opens the Same Weekend

The same ministry launches Viví Vitrina Visual CR, a market for Costa Rican artists, at the Antigua Aduana (the old customs house) in San José. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday 21 November and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday 22 November.

A technical committee chose 70 artists from 193 applications. Nine invited artists show alongside them, including Fernando Carballo and Otto Apuy.

Works include paintings, photography, sculpture, ceramics, textiles and video art. The ministry says visitors can buy works, attend talks and join free training sessions.

The ministry lists admission as free, which makes Saturday a full day with art by day and jazz at night. We found no rules on payment methods, so ask about shipping and export paperwork before you commit to a large piece.

What It Means for US Visitors

The US State Department says American tourists may stay up to 180 days in Costa Rica without a visa, though entry is not guaranteed. A return ticket is required, and the passport needs one page for each entry stamp.

The State Department asks travellers to exercise increased caution in Costa Rica because of crime, which is its Level 2 advisory. It calls petty crime the main threat for tourists, though violent crime also occurs.

It advises using only licensed taxis or well-known ride-sharing apps, and avoiding public buses because of pickpocketing. For a night concert, book your ride back to the hotel before you leave.

Keep your phone and wallet out of sight on the pedestrian boulevard. The emergency number is 911, and the US Embassy in the Pavas district of San José answers on +506 2519-2000.

The 506 Jazz Fest is free, so your real costs are the flight, the hotel and taxis. Our guide to Costa Rica travel costs for US visitors puts numbers on a trip.

Our report on United’s new Washington Dulles to Liberia flights shows one more way to arrive from 17 December. Book flights early, because November is a busy month for Costa Rica.

What Is Not Confirmed Yet

We found no festival page on the ministry’s own website, so the dates and lineup come from its announcement of Tuesday 27 October. Two Costa Rican news sites carried the same details.

No ticket system, seat reservation, queue rule, age limit, bag policy or capacity is published for the 506 Jazz Fest. Free events can fill up, so arrive early for the Anfiteatro shows.

Set times and end times, the full list of international guests and any weather plan are missing. The announcement also does not say whether the Anfiteatro is covered.

The programme of the 506 Jazz Fest and the art fair could still change. Check the ministry’s social media the day before you travel to the venue.

More Costa Rica and San José Coverage

Our San José city page collects guides for expats and visitors. The What to Do in San José in October 2026 guide covers the month before the festival.

If you stay into December, read about the San José Festival of Light parade on 12 December. Runners can plan around the San José Marathon on 6 December.

More: Costa Rica news in English, every day from The Rio Times.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the 506 Jazz Fest in San José?

It runs from Thursday 19 to Saturday 21 November 2026, with concerts in the evening. The Viví Vitrina Visual CR art fair follows on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November.

Do I need a ticket for the 506 Jazz Fest?

The ministry lists admission as free, and we found no ticket sales. No reservation or queue rules are published, so arrive early and confirm on the day.

Do US citizens need a visa to attend?

No, the US State Department says American tourists may stay up to 180 days without a visa. You must hold a return ticket, and the passport needs a page for each entry stamp.

Sources: Ministerio de Cultura y Juventud de Costa Rica, organiser (announcement of 27 October 2026; site pages could not be read), accessed 28 October 2026; US Department of State, Costa Rica country information (entry rules, Level 2 advisory, safety advice), accessed 28 October 2026.

Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief · Editorial standards · Report an error