Samara Joy to Make New Zealand Debut at Wellington Jazz Festival 2025
Samara Joy headlines the Wellington Jazz Festival with her seven-piece band, performing music from Portrait and earlier work in her first-ever New Zealand show.
Samara Joy will make her New Zealand debut at the Wellington Jazz Festival in October 2025. She’ll headline the St James Theatre with her seven-piece band, performing music from her latest album Portrait alongside earlier favorites.
At just 25, Joy has earned comparisons to 
Sarah Vaughan and 
Ella Fitzgerald for her rich tone and phrasing, while her contemporary arrangements bring jazz to a new generation. Portrait continues her focus on the Great American Songbook, updated with fresh, modern interpretations.
Joy first broke through in 2023, winning Best New Artist and Best Jazz Vocal Album for Linger Awhile, a rare mainstream moment for a jazz performer. Since then, she’s added three more Grammys, sold out venues worldwide, and appeared at top festivals including Montreux and Newport.
Her Wellington set is part of a global Portrait tour and marks a major festival milestone, cementing the event’s reputation for world-class jazz programming.