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'). January 28 – The Melbourne International Jazz Festival announces the appointment of Xani Kolac as its 2026 Take Note programme leader. January 29 – Jazz at Lincoln Center announces that Wynton Marsalis is to stand down as its artistic director in July 2027. 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. April 23–25 – The Jazzahead festival takes place in Bremen, Germany. May 29–31 – The Java Jazz Festival takes place in its new venue, the Nusantara International Convention Exhibition, PIK 2.
Albums
MonthDayArtistAlbumLabelSubgenresNotesRef. January9Dave StrykerBlue Fire: The Van Gelder SessionStrikezone Records16Craig Taborn, with Tomeka Reid and Ches SmithDream ArchivesECM Records Richard Marx After Hours Richard Marx Inc. 23Julian Lage, with John Medeski, Jorge Roeder, and Kenny WollesenScenes From AboveBlue Note RecordsChamber jazz30Dave DouglasFour FreedomsGreenleaf MusicJoel RossGospel MusicBlue Note Records February13Melissa AldanaFilinBlue NoteJulie CampicheUnspokenRonin Rhythm Records March 3John PizzarelliDear Mr. BennettGreen Hill MusicTomeka ReidDance! Skip! Hop!Out Of Your Head Records6ShabakaOf the EarthShabaka RecordsOkkyung LeeSignalsFlung Records June5Anna LolaTIEMPO
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. + "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 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 |- | style="vertical-align:top;" width="50%" | 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 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 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 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 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 1ShabakaOf The Earth8562The Messthetics and James Brandon LewisDeface The Currency834 3Pat MethenySide-Eye III+835 4Bill FrisellIn My Dreams786 5Julian LageScenes From Above765
AnyDecentMusic? Number Artist Album Average score Number of reviews Reference 1ShabakaOf The Earth7.96 reviews
Deaths January 26 Richie Beirach, American jazz pianist and composer, 78 Ian McDougall, Canadian jazz trombonist and academic, 87 February 2 – Ken Peplowski, American jazz clarinetist and tenor saxophonist, 66 February 7 – Kåre Grøttum, Norwegian jazz pianist and composer, 92 February 9 – Michel Portal, French jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, and composer, 90 March 12 – Keith Ingham, English jazz pianist, 88 March 21 – Steve Houben, Belgian jazz saxophonist and flutist, 76 May 19 – Gunter Hampel, German jazz multi-instrumentalist and composer, 88Frank Schindelbeck: "Gunter Hampel, 1937 – 2026". jazzpages.de, 20 May 2026 (in German). Retrieved 20 May 2026. May 20 – Ron Escheté, American jazz guitarist, 77Joe Barth: "Guitar Great Ron Eschete’ Dies at age 77". jazzguitartoday.com, 22 May 2026. Retrieved 24 May 2026. May 25 – Sonny Rollins, American jazz tenor saxophonist, 95
See also List of 2026 albums List of jazz festivals List of years in jazz 2026 in music
References
External links