The IJFO is an umbrella organization to currently 14 leading jazz festivals worldwide. The members do not compete territorially and are situated at times which allow for the touring of common projects.

The history of IJFO goes back more than 20 years: Several European jazz festivals promoters (Paul Acket, Norbert Gamsohn, Jyrki Kangas, Claude Nobs and Fritz Thom) met in Paris in 1982 to discuss a tour with Miles Davis.

Three promoters emerged out of this Paris meeting as the core of what became the EJFO (European Jazz Festivals Organization): Paul Acket (North Sea), Jyrki Kangas (Pori) and Fritz Thom (Vienna). In 1988, Paul Acket invited 7 European jazz festivals to meet in New York, among them were Molde, North Sea, Pori, Vienna (Austria) and Vitoria. This was the birth of the EJFO. Shortly after that, Umbria Jazz and Vienne (France) joined, followed a bit later by Istanbul and Montreux.

After Montreal joined the organization a few years ago, the time was finally right in 2002, after Monterey and Vancouver came on board, for the original European association to go international. This was the birth of the IJFO - the International Jazz Festivals Organization.

Since 2001, the IJFO sponsors an international jazz award. This award is presented in partnership with the IAJE (International Associaton for Jazz Education) at their annual conferences and rewards upcoming talents in the genre of jazz.