The best jazz radio stations to stream online

Updated October 21, 2026 · World Radio Stations · 6 min read

The best jazz radio stations to stream online are Radio Swiss Jazz for non-stop jazz with no adverts, FIP and its FIP Jazz stream from Paris, Jazz24 from the Seattle area, WBGO in Newark, TSF Jazz in Paris and Jazz FM in the UK. All of them are free. You can also hear jazz from around the world in one place in our Jazz & Soul collection.

Here is what each station plays, who runs it and how to tune in.

Quick comparison

Radio Swiss Jazz: non-stop jazz with no ads

Radio Swiss Jazz is run by the Swiss public broadcaster SRG SSR. It plays jazz, blues and soul around the clock, with no adverts and very little talk: just brief announcements of artists and titles. The playlist covers swing, bebop, vocal jazz and modern styles, and it gives regular airtime to Swiss musicians. In Switzerland it is on DAB+ digital radio. Everywhere else, it streams online.

Its sister station, Radio Swiss Classic, works the same way for classical music (see our best classical radio stations). Stream Radio Swiss Jazz live on its station guide.

Best for: uninterrupted jazz while you work, cook or read.

FIP and FIP Jazz: curated listening from Paris

FIP has been part of Radio France since 1971. Its main station is not jazz-only. It moves between jazz, world music, rock, electronic, classical and French chanson, with gentle links and no commercials, so jazz fans tend to love it anyway.

If you want jazz all the time, choose FIP Jazz. It is one of FIP’s online-only streams, alongside channels such as FIP Rock, FIP Groove, FIP Electro, FIP Reggae and FIP Monde (world music). Stream FIP on its station guide or browse the France page for the other channels.

Best for: listeners who like jazz mixed with other good music, or FIP Jazz for jazz alone.

Jazz24: free jazz streaming around the clock

If you searched for “Jazz 24”, this is the station you want. Jazz24 is a free online jazz station that runs 24 hours a day. It comes from KNKX, the public radio station on 88.5 FM in Tacoma, Washington, which was known as KPLU until 2016. Jazz24 has its own app, and in the Seattle–Tacoma area it is also on KNKX’s HD2 channel. It is produced in the station’s Seattle and Tacoma studios. Find it on the United States page.

Best for: a reliable jazz stream with a public radio feel.

WBGO: the jazz station of Newark and New York

WBGO broadcasts on 88.3 FM. It is licensed to Newark, New Jersey, and its transmitter sits at 4 Times Square in Manhattan, so it covers much of the New York area. In 1979 a group of Newark activists formed Newark Public Radio to take over the station, which made it New Jersey’s first public radio station. Today it plays mainly jazz and blues, along with NPR programmes and local news, and it streams online. Find it on the United States page, and read our guide to the best public radio in the USA for similar stations.

Best for: jazz with deep roots in the New York scene.

TSF Jazz: Paris’s all-jazz FM station

TSF Jazz has played jazz on 89.9 FM in Paris since 1999. It also has frequencies in Nice and Cannes. The station is owned by Nova Press and mixes a wide jazz playlist with culture and news programmes. If you want a full-time jazz station in French, this is the obvious choice. Find it on the France page.

Best for: a classic jazz station with a Parisian accent.

Jazz FM: the UK’s national jazz station

Jazz FM is owned by Bauer and broadcasts nationally across the UK on DAB digital radio. It plays jazz, soul and blues, and it runs the annual Jazz FM Awards. Find it on the United Kingdom page.

Best for: jazz, soul and blues on UK DAB radios.

Jazz on public classical and music stations

Some of the best jazz radio comes from stations that are not jazz-only:

• France Musique focuses on classical music and jazz, and in Paris it is on 91.7 FM. Find it on the France page.
• BBC Radio 3 is best known for classical music, but its schedule also has regular jazz programmes. It streams online through BBC Sounds.
• CBC Music, the music network of Canada’s public broadcaster, includes jazz among the styles it plays and often features Canadian artists.

Best for: jazz alongside classical and specialist programmes.

Which jazz station suits you?

• Music with almost no talk: Radio Swiss Jazz or FIP Jazz. Both are ad-free and keep speech to a minimum, so they work well for studying or focused work.
• A traditional jazz station with news: WBGO, if you want American public radio, or TSF Jazz, if you want it in French.
• Jazz mixed with other genres: FIP’s main station, or CBC Music.
• Jazz on a UK DAB radio: Jazz FM, or the jazz programmes on BBC Radio 3.

How to find more jazz radio online

The quickest way is our Jazz & Soul collection. It gathers jazz-tagged stations from many countries into one list you can play straight away. You can also:

1. Open the player, pick a country and tap the Jazz genre filter, or search for “jazz”.
2. Browse the countries known for jazz radio, such as the United States, France and the United Kingdom.
3. Save the stations you like to your favourites so they are one click away next time.

For something mellower, try the Chill and Focus collections.

FAQ

What is the best jazz radio station?

There isn’t one right answer, but Radio Swiss Jazz is hard to beat for non-stop jazz with no adverts. FIP Jazz is the pick if you like curated playlists, and WBGO or TSF Jazz if you want a traditional jazz station with presenters.

What is Jazz24?

Jazz24 is a free, 24-hour online jazz station from KNKX, the public radio station based in Tacoma, Washington. You can stream it on the web or through its app.

Can I listen to jazz radio online for free?

Yes. Every station in this list streams free online. You can play them, and many other jazz stations, from our Jazz & Soul collection with no sign-up.

Which jazz radio stations have no ads?

Radio Swiss Jazz and FIP (including FIP Jazz) are publicly funded and carry no commercials.