MaiJazz shall be Norway's leading jazz festival and this regions most important cultural event characterised by diversity and quality. MaiJazz want to make Stavanger a better place to live.

MaiJazz is Stavanger's oldest festival and has been running for 15 years. Since the first festival in 1989 MaiJazz has developed to be one of Norway's leading jazz festivals presenting international jazz stars and the best in national and local jazz every year.

Approximately 180 volunteers are gathered to arrange about 40 concerts on 20 good stages that can house from 80 to 1800 audience in and around Stavanger. Close to 12000 audience experienced MaiJazz' anniversary festival in 2003 which was arranged from 6. - 10. May.

A board consisting of 7 members and the Chairman Per Hasse Andersen governs the festival. MaiJazz has established 5 different committees working on subjects such as planning the festival throughout the year (program, PR, organisation, sponsor/market and economy).

MaiJazz has a small administration consisting of two employees(Market Director Lise Bjelland and Managing Director Helleik Kvinnesland). MaiJazz budget is in excess of 5 million kroner. Income from the festival comes mainly from ticket sale (ca 40%), sponsor income (ca 35%) and government assistance (ca 25 %). MaiJazz main sponsors are Total, SAS, Stavanger Aftenblad and Radisson SAS. Norsk Kulturråd and Stavanger Kommune are the two most important government supporters.

Artists presented by MaiJazz in the later years have been:
Pat Metheny Group, Jan Garbarek Group, Gotan Project, Nils Petter Molvær, St Germain, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Youssou N`Dour, Joshua Redman, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock and others.

There has been an exiting and unique cooperation between MaiJazz and Stavanger Symfoniorkester since 1994 where the festival invites jazz solo artists to work with the orchestra.

More info:
Stavanger Jazzforum is MaiJazz' mother organisation and offers quality jazz all year around at different stages almost every week except during holidays. Stavanger Jazzforum is also responsible for Tradjazzweekend-Stavanger, which is arranged annually the third weekend in January.