2026 in jazz

2026 in jazz
2026 in jazz
Decade	2020s in jazz
Music	2026 in music
Standards	List of jazz standards
See also	2025 in jazz – 2027 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting the events of jazz in the year 2026.

Events

January 15 – Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) announces Hanno Busch as the recipient of the WDR Jazzpreis 2026, and the Big Band der Humanwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Universität zu Köln ('Big Band of the Faculty of Human Sciences at the University of Cologne) as the recipient of the 2026 Nachwuchspreis ('Young Talent Award').^[1]
January 28 – The Melbourne International Jazz Festival announces the appointment of Xani Kolac as its 2026 Take Note programme leader.^[2]
January 29 – Jazz at Lincoln Center announces that Wynton Marsalis is to stand down as its artistic director in July 2027.^[3]
February 1 - The 68th Annual Grammy Awards occur, with the best recordings, compositions, and artists from August 31, 2024, to August 30, 2025 being eligible.
February 27 – Jazz St. Louis announces that Victor Goines has stood down as its president and chief executive officer.^[4]
April 23–25 – The Jazzahead festival takes place in Bremen, Germany.^[5]
May 29–31 – The Java Jazz Festival takes place in its new venue, the Nusantara International Convention Exhibition, PIK 2.^[6]

Albums

Month	Day	Artist	Album	Label	Subgenres	Ref.
January	9	Dave Stryker	Blue Fire: The Van Gelder Session	Strikezone Records		^[7]
	16	Craig Taborn, with Tomeka Reid and Ches Smith	Dream Archives	ECM Records		^[8]^[9]
	16	Richard Marx	After Hours	Richard Marx Inc.		^[10]
	23	Julian Lage, with John Medeski, Jorge Roeder, and Kenny Wollesen	Scenes From Above	Blue Note Records	Chamber jazz	^[11]
	30	Dave Douglas	Four Freedoms	Greenleaf Music		^[12]^[13]
	30	Joel Ross	Gospel Music	Blue Note Records	Post-Bop Spiritual jazz^[14]	^[15]
February	13	Julie Campiche	Unspoken	Ronin Rhythm Records		^[16]^[17]
March	3	John Pizzarelli	Dear Mr. Bennett	Green Hill Music		^[18]
	3	Tomeka Reid	Dance! Skip! Hop!	Out Of Your Head Records		^[19]^[20]
	6	Shabaka	Of the Earth	Shabaka Records		^[21]
	6	Okkyung Lee	Signals	Flung Records		^[22]

Awards

Grammy Awards

The 68th Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 1, 2026, honoring the best recordings, compositions, and artists from August 31, 2024, to August 30, 2025, as chosen by the members of the Recording Academy.

Jazz
Best Jazz Performance "Windows – Live" – Chick Corea, Christian McBride & Brian Blade "Noble Rise" – Lakecia Benjamin featuring Immanuel Wilkins & Mark Whitfield "Peace of Mind / Dreams Come True" – Samara Joy "Four" – Michael Mayo "All Stars Lead to You – Live" – Nicole Zuraitis, Dan Pugach, Tom Scott, Idan Morim, Keyon Harrold, Rachel Eckroth & Sam Weber	Best Jazz Vocal Album Portrait – Samara Joy Elemental – Dee Dee Bridgewater & Bill Charlap We Insist 2025! – Terri Lyne Carrington & Christie Dashiell Fly – Michael Mayo Live at Vic's Las Vegas – Nicole Zuraitis, Dan Pugach, Tom Scott, Idan Morim, Keyon Harrold, Rachel Eckroth & Sam Weber
Best Jazz Instrumental Album Southern Nights – Sullivan Fortner featuring Peter Washington & Marcus Gilmore Trilogy 3 – Live – Chick Corea, Christian McBride & Brian Blade Belonging – Branford Marsalis Quartet Spirit Fall – John Patitucci featuring Chris Potter & Brian Blade Fasten Up – Yellowjackets	Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album Without Further Ado, Vol 1 – Christian McBride Big Band Orchestrator Emulator – The 8-Bit Big Band Lumen – Danilo Pérez & Bohuslän Big Band Basie Rocks – Deborah Silver & The Count Basie Orchestra Lights on a Satellite – Sun Ra Arkestra Some Days Are Better: The Lost Scores – Kenny Wheeler Legacy featuring The Royal Academy of Music Jazz Orchestra & Frost Jazz Orchestra
Best Latin Jazz Album A Tribute to Benny Moré and Nat King Cole – Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Yainer Horta & Joey Calveiro La Fleur de Cayenne – Paquito D'Rivera & Madrid-New York Connection Band The Original Influencers: Dizzy, Chano & Chico – Arturo O'Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra featuring Pedrito Martinez, Daymé Arocena, Jon Faddis, Donald Harrison & Melvis Santa Mundoagua – Celebrating Carla Bley – Arturo O'Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra Vanguardia Subterránea: Live at the Village Vanguard – Miguel Zenón Quartet	Best Alternative Jazz Album Live-Action – Nate Smith Honey from a Winter Stone – Ambrose Akinmusire Keys to the City Volume One – Robert Glasper Ride into the Sun – Brad Mehldau Blues Blood – Immanuel Wilkins
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album A Matter of Time – Laufey Wintersongs – Laila Biali The Gift of Love – Jennifer Hudson Who Believes in Angels? – Elton John & Brandi Carlile Harlequin – Lady Gaga The Secret of Life: Partners, Volume 2 – Barbra Streisand

All critically reviewed albums ranked

Metacritic

Number	Artist	Album	Average score	Number of reviews	Reference
1	Shabaka	Of The Earth	85	6	^[23]
2	The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis	Deface The Currency	83	4	^[24]
3	Pat Metheny	Side-Eye III+	83	5	^[25]
4	Bill Frisell	In My Dreams	78	6	^[26]
5	Julian Lage	Scenes From Above	76	5	^[27]

AnyDecentMusic?

Number	Artist	Album	Average score	Number of reviews	Reference
1	Shabaka	Of The Earth	7.9	6 reviews	^[28]

Deaths

January 26
- Richie Beirach, American jazz pianist and composer, 78^[29]
- Ian McDougall, Canadian jazz trombonist and academic, 87^[30]
February 2 – Ken Peplowski, American jazz clarinetist and tenor saxophonist, 66^[31]
February 7 – Kåre Grøttum, Norwegian jazz pianist and composer, 92^[32]
February 9 – Michel Portal, French jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, and composer, 90^[33]

References

^ "Der WDR Jazzpreis 2026" (Press release). WDR. 15 January 2026. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
^ "Introducing MIJF's 2026 Take Note Jazz Leader" (Press release). Melbourne International Jazz Festival. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
^ Robin Pogrebin (2026-01-29). "Wynton Marsalis, Founder of Jazz at Lincoln Center, to Step Down". The New York Times. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
^ Jeremy D. Goodwin (2026-02-27). "Victor Goines leaves Jazz St. Louis after leading it since 2022". St. Louis Public Radio. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
^ "Danish Artists ready for Jazzahead 2026". Jazz Danmark. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
^ "Java Jazz Festival 2026". Java Jazz Festival. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
^ "Blue Fire - The Van Gelder Session". All About Jazz. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
^ Layman, Will (28 January 2026). "Craig Taborn Is at the Apex of Contemporary Jazz » PopMatters". www.popmatters.com. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
^ "Dream Archives". ECM Records. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
^ Trust, Gary (January 16, 2026). "Richard Marx Talks New Album After Hours: "I Have to Have a New Bucket List Now"". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
^ Layman, Will (29 January 2026). "Julian Lage Teams with John Medeski for Impeccable LP » PopMatters". www.popmatters.com. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
^ "Dave Douglas to Release Four Freedoms with Lead Single "Sandhog"". 5 December 2025. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
^ Layman, Will (12 February 2026). "Jazz Trumpeter Dave Douglas Presents a New Quartet » PopMatters". www.popmatters.com. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
^ Jazz, All About (2 February 2026). "Joel Ross: Gospel Music album review @ All About Jazz". All About Jazz. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
^ "JOEL ROSS "GOSPEL MUSIC"". Blue Note Records. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
^ "Unspoken Bandcamp". Bandcamp. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
^ Fordham, John (30 January 2026). "Julie Campiche: Unspoken review – a harpist's tender, quietly radical hymn to women who endure". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
^ Enos, Morgan (January 12, 2026). "Mondays with Morgan: John Pizzarelli – new album Dear Mr. Bennett". UK Jazz News. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
^ "dance! skip! hop! Out of Your Head Records". Retrieved March 7, 2026.
^ Fordham, John (27 February 2026). "Tomeka Reid: Dance! Skip! Hop! review – an early contender for jazz album of the year". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
^ Flynn, Mike (January 14, 2026). "Shabaka announces new solo album Of the Earth for March 2026 ahead of Village Underground launch". Jazzwise. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
^ Barry, Robert (10 March 2026). "Okkyung Lee + Explore Ensemble – Signals". The Quietus. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
^ "Of The Earth Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
^ "Deface The Currency Metacritic", Metacritic, retrieved March 7, 2026
^ "Side-Eye III+ Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
^ "In My Dreams Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
^ "Scenes From Above Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
^ "Of The Earth by Shabaka reviews | Any Decent Music". www.anydecentmusic.com. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
^ Amorosi, A. D. (27 January 2026). "Richard Beirach, Pianist, Composer, Early ECM Stalwart, Dies at 78". Jazztimes. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
^ "Ian McDougall obituary". Victoria Times. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
^ Michael J. West (2026-02-03). "In Memoriam: Ken Peplowski, 1959–2026". Downbeat. Retrieved 2026-02-09.
^ "Kåre Idar Grøttum". Heder – M. Jacobsen gravferd. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
^ Suzana Kubik (2026-02-15). "Mort de Michel Portal, un musicien sans frontières". France Musique. Retrieved 2026-02-16.

External links

[1] "Der WDR Jazzpreis 2026" (Press release). WDR. 15 January 2026. Retrieved 2026-03-02.

[2] "Introducing MIJF's 2026 Take Note Jazz Leader" (Press release). Melbourne International Jazz Festival. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 2026-03-02.

[3] Robin Pogrebin (2026-01-29). "Wynton Marsalis, Founder of Jazz at Lincoln Center, to Step Down". The New York Times. Retrieved 2026-02-16.

[4] Jeremy D. Goodwin (2026-02-27). "Victor Goines leaves Jazz St. Louis after leading it since 2022". St. Louis Public Radio. Retrieved 2026-03-02.

[5] "Danish Artists ready for Jazzahead 2026". Jazz Danmark. Retrieved 6 January 2026.

[6] "Java Jazz Festival 2026". Java Jazz Festival. Retrieved 2 January 2026.

[7] "Blue Fire - The Van Gelder Session". All About Jazz. Retrieved 2 January 2026.

[8] Layman, Will (28 January 2026). "Craig Taborn Is at the Apex of Contemporary Jazz » PopMatters". www.popmatters.com. Retrieved 9 March 2026.

[9] "Dream Archives". ECM Records. Retrieved 9 March 2026.

[10] Trust, Gary (January 16, 2026). "Richard Marx Talks New Album After Hours: "I Have to Have a New Bucket List Now"". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2026.

[11] Layman, Will (29 January 2026). "Julian Lage Teams with John Medeski for Impeccable LP » PopMatters". www.popmatters.com. Retrieved 9 March 2026.

[12] "Dave Douglas to Release Four Freedoms with Lead Single "Sandhog"". 5 December 2025. Retrieved 9 March 2026.

[13] Layman, Will (12 February 2026). "Jazz Trumpeter Dave Douglas Presents a New Quartet » PopMatters". www.popmatters.com. Retrieved 9 March 2026.

[14] Jazz, All About (2 February 2026). "Joel Ross: Gospel Music album review @ All About Jazz". All About Jazz. Retrieved 17 March 2026.

[15] "JOEL ROSS "GOSPEL MUSIC"". Blue Note Records. Retrieved 17 March 2026.

[16] "Unspoken Bandcamp". Bandcamp. Retrieved 7 March 2026.

[17] Fordham, John (30 January 2026). "Julie Campiche: Unspoken review – a harpist's tender, quietly radical hymn to women who endure". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 March 2026.

[18] Enos, Morgan (January 12, 2026). "Mondays with Morgan: John Pizzarelli – new album Dear Mr. Bennett". UK Jazz News. Retrieved January 12, 2026.

[19] "dance! skip! hop! Out of Your Head Records". Retrieved March 7, 2026.

[20] Fordham, John (27 February 2026). "Tomeka Reid: Dance! Skip! Hop! review – an early contender for jazz album of the year". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 March 2026.

[21] Flynn, Mike (January 14, 2026). "Shabaka announces new solo album Of the Earth for March 2026 ahead of Village Underground launch". Jazzwise. Retrieved January 14, 2026.

[22] Barry, Robert (10 March 2026). "Okkyung Lee + Explore Ensemble – Signals". The Quietus. Retrieved 17 March 2026.

[23] "Of The Earth Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved March 7, 2026.

[24] "Deface The Currency Metacritic", Metacritic, retrieved March 7, 2026

[25] "Side-Eye III+ Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved March 7, 2026.

[26] "In My Dreams Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved March 7, 2026.

[27] "Scenes From Above Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved March 7, 2026.

[28] "Of The Earth by Shabaka reviews | Any Decent Music". www.anydecentmusic.com. Retrieved 17 March 2026.

[29] Amorosi, A. D. (27 January 2026). "Richard Beirach, Pianist, Composer, Early ECM Stalwart, Dies at 78". Jazztimes. Retrieved 27 January 2026.

[30] "Ian McDougall obituary". Victoria Times. Retrieved 31 January 2026.

[31] Michael J. West (2026-02-03). "In Memoriam: Ken Peplowski, 1959–2026". Downbeat. Retrieved 2026-02-09.

[32] "Kåre Idar Grøttum". Heder – M. Jacobsen gravferd. Retrieved 17 February 2026.

[33] Suzana Kubik (2026-02-15). "Mort de Michel Portal, un musicien sans frontières". France Musique. Retrieved 2026-02-16.

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