The 2026 edition of NYC Winter Jazzfest is this week (January 8-13) at venues all over Manhattan and Brooklyn. The first night features individually ticketed shows, and then there are “marathons” in Manhattan (Friday, January 9) and Brooklyn (Saturday, January 10) where your pass gets you into multiple venues all located with close distances to each other, encouraging club-hopping and discovery. Tickets and marathon passes are on sale now.
This year’s theme “centers on the joy and beauty of gathering together while celebrating the tradition and future of Black American music—especially urgent during a time when external forces threaten to erase Black culture and history.”
The 2026 lineup includes Meshell Ndegeocello, Kassa Overall, Isaiah Collier, James Brandon Lewis, Nels Cline, Marcus Gilmore, Dave Harrington’s Pranksters East, Dawn of Midi, Mei Semones, Greg Saunier, Sam Gendel, William Tyler & Yasmin Williams, Xenia Rubinos, Carl Hancock Rux, and more.
Among the showcases this year:
- Sylvan Esso’s Psychic Hotline Records takes over Le Poisson Rouge on Thursday (1/8) with Mei Semones & John Roseboro, Amy Gadiaga, Sam Gendel, Joe Westerlund, William Tyler & Yasmin Williams, and a Sylvan Esso DJ set.
- Gilles Peterson presents his annual showcase of rising UK talent on Sunday, January 11 at Elsewhere with Kassa Overall, Made Kuti, Ron Trent, Nickodemus, Lovie and Carl Hancock Rux. He’ll also be at Roulette on 1/13 with “Liner Notes,” featuring “an evening of music, stories and more.”
- On January 13 at Le Poisson Rouge, Dave Harrington’s Pranksters East will celebrate Miles Davis’ centennial year with a reimagining of his classic 1970 album Bitches Brew, with help from Nels Cline, Yuka Honda, Shahzad Ismaily, Ann Abondolo, Kenny Wollesen, Tcheser Holmes, Stuart Bogie, Ilhan Ersahin, Alfredo Colon, and Phil Weinrobe.
Check out the 2026 Winter Jazzfest lineup below and head to their website for full info on showcases and the Manhattan and Brooklyn marathons.
NYC Winter Jazzfest 2026 Lineup:
Adam O’Farrill ELEPHANT
Adegoke Steve Colson
Alden Hellmuth
Alfredo Colón Quintet
AMG
Amir ElSaffar
Amirtha Kidambi Elder Ones
Amy Gadiaga
Annie & The Caldwells
Anthony Tidd
Arturo O’Farrill
Arun Ramamurthy Trio
Ben Williams
Bex Burch
BIG YUKI
Brandon Ross Phantom Station
Brandon Woody’s Upendo
Carl Hancock Rux
Carmen Staaf
Célia Kameni
Cochemea
Cole Pulice
Daoud
Dave Harrington’s Pranksters East
David Binney Action Trio w/ Pera Krstajic and Louis Cole
David Murray Quartet
David Virelles’ The Singer’s Grove
Dawn of Midi
Dee Dee Bridgewater
DJ Lovie
DoYeon Kim Quintet
Ekep Nkwelle
Elena & Samora Pinderhughes
Endea Owens & The Cookout
Flávio Silva
Fonville x Fribush
Freedom Riders
Gabrielle Cavassa
GILDAA
Gilles Peterson
Greg Saunier
Hamilton de Holanda
Hanging Hearts
Immanuel Wilkins
Instant Alter
Isaiah Collier
James Brandon Lewis
James Carter Quintet
Joe Dyson
Joe Westerlund
Joel Ross
John Hébert and the Youngbloods
John Roseboro
Joy Guidry
Julius Hemphill Stringtet
Kahil ElZabar & Isaiah Collier
Kassa Overall
Kurt Elling
Lady Blackbird
Lakecia Benjamin
Laura Anglade
Lex Korten
LOJO Watts Logan Richardson, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Joe Sanders
Louis Cato
Luke Stewart Silt Trio
Luke Titus
Mádé Kuti
MAE.SUN
Marcus Gilmore’s Journey to the New
Maria Chávez
Mario Canonge Trio
Mei Semones
Melvin Gibbs
Merope with Shahzad Ismaily
Meshell Ndegeocello
Milena Casado
Mingus Dynasty
Nate Mercereau
Nels Cline: Lovers
New Jazz Underground
Next Jazz Legacy
Nickodemus
Nicole Mitchell’s Black Earth Sway
Obed Calvaire
Ohad Talmor
Patricia Brennan
Pedrito Martinez
Quantum Blues Quartet
Ron Trent
Ruly Herrera
Sam Gendel
Sarah Elizabeth Charles
Sasha Berliner
Shahzad Ismaily
Silkroad Ensemble
Sylvan Esso (DJ Set)
Takuya Kuroda
The Either/Orchestra plays éthiopiques
The Getdown
Tia Fuller & Shamie Royston
Tomas Fujiwara: Dream Up
Tomeka Reid Quartet
Tomoki Sanders
Tyreek McDole
Veronica Swift
William Parker Pocket Watch Orchestra
William Tyler & Yasmin Williams
Xenia Rubinos