[2] The festival is held annually on the 20-acre (8 ha), oak-studded Monterey County Fairgrounds, located at 2004 Fairground Road in Monterey, on the third full weekend in September, beginning on Friday.

In addition, the Monterey Jazz Festival features jazz conversations, panel discussions, workshops, exhibitions, clinics, and an international array of food, shopping, and festivities spread throughout the fairgrounds.

The founder and general manager of MJF for 35 years, Jimmy Lyons, brought Brubeck to Monterey to perform for the city council to persuade them to allow the festival to occur.

He performed at the Festival 14 times which included his appearance at the 2007 / 50th golden anniversary.

[2] The Monterey Pop Festival was held at the fairgrounds in 1967 for three days in mid-June, part of the Summer of Love.

2023 Herbie Hancock, Charles Lloyd, John Handy, Terrence Blanchard, Christian McBride, John Scofield, Thundercat, Snarky Puppy, Kendrick Scott, Chris Potter, Reuben Rogers, Terri Lyne Carrington, Marcus Strickland, Ben Wendel, Lakecia Benjamin, Turtle Island Quartet, Oscar Seaton Jr., Lionel Loueke, Jaylen Petinaud, Diane Reeves, Billy Childs, Sean Jones, Gerald Clayton, John Clayton, Jeff Hamilton, Louis Cato, Charles Haynes, Justin Brown, Marcus Gilmore, Ambrose Akinmusire, Donny McCaslin, Gretchen Parlato, Kait Dunton, Scary Goldings, Chris Cain, Sullivan Fortner, Jeremy Pelt, Lew Tabackin, Peter Washington, Connie Han, Bill Wysaske, Isaiah Sharkey, Oumou Sangaré, Jamie Cullum, Samara Joy, Evan Sherman, Benny Green, Yasushi Nakamura, Clarence Penn, Ben Flocks, Azar Lawrence, Josh Evans, James Francies, Taylor Eigisti 2024 Stanley Clarke, Robert Glasper, Joshua Redman, Mavis Staples, Keyon Harrold, Chris Potter, Kendrick Scott, Matt Brewer, Mumu Fresh, Chief Adjuah, Jose James, Gerald Clayton, Samara Joy, Don Was, Blind Boys of Alabama, Herlin Riley, Jason Marsalis, Bobby Rush, Gabrielle Cavassa, Phillip Norris, Cory Henry, Somi, Jason Moran, Nasheet Waits, Marcus Gilmore, Elé Howell, Ryoma Takenaga, Joel Ross, Marquis Hill, Orrin Evans, Brandee Younger, Nazir Ebo, Paul Cornish