PURPOSE: The aims of the International Day of Jazz is to raise awareness in the international community of the virtues of jazz as a force for peace, unity, dialogue and enhanced cooperation among people, as well as an educational tool. Many governments, civil society organizations, educational institutions, and private citizens currently engaged in the promotion of jazz music will embrace the opportunity to foster greater appreciation not only for the music but also for the contribution it can make to building more inclusive societies.
FORUM: ''The power of jazz in fostering intercultural dialogue, unity and artistic exchange.” International Jazz Day 2026. Established by the General Conference of UNESCO in 2011 and recognized by the United Nations General Assembly, the Day brings together countries and communities worldwide every 30 April. The celebration highlights the power of jazz and its role in promoting peace, dialogue among cultures, diversity and respect for human dignity. International Jazz Day has become a global movement reaching more than 2 billion people annually on all continents through education programmes, performances, community outreach, radio, television and streaming, along with electronic, print and social media. The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz is the lead nonprofit organization charged with planning, promoting and producing International Jazz Day each year. UNESCO appointed Herbie Hancock as Goodwill Ambassador in 2011 for his commitment to intercultural dialogue. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #Jazzday; #InternationalJazzDay; #30April ;#jazzmusic; #jazzists; #concerts; #musician; #artisticexchange.
EVENTS: A global celebration of jazz is coming to Chicago!
On April 30th at 4 pm (EDT) - 1 pm (PDT) - 10 pm (CET); In Chicago Illlinois; As the Global Host City for International Jazz Day 2026, the city will mark the initiative’s 15th anniversary with a month-long lineup of performances, educational programs and community events presented by the Chicago Jazz Alliance in partnership with UNESCO and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz. The event’s lineup, announced today by UNESCO and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, includes musicians Gregory Porter (United States of America), James Morrison (Australia), Tiger Okoshi (Japan), Mandisi Dyantyis (South Africa), Antonio Sánchez (Mexico), Mino Cinélu (Martinique, France) and many more. The All-Star Global Concert in Chicago will be streamed to millions live worldwide, free of charge, in 4K on YouTube at yt.be/jazzday, where viewers can already sign up for notifications, as well as via UNESCO, UNTV, jazzday.com, Facebook, and other international media partners. Watch the livestream!
Other celebrations: Honoring the city’s illustrious jazz heritage—where legends such as Louis Armstrong, King Oliver and Jelly Roll Morton shaped the evolution of the music—Chicago is hosting a series of performances, educational programmes and community initiatives from 1 April to 3 May. These initiatives are designed to showcase jazz’s enduring ability, throughout history and today, to inspire a shared sense of humanity through culture. Highlights of the Chicago programme include a performance by the Chicago Jazz Orchestra at Unity Temple on 28 April, the UNESCO World Heritage–listed architectural landmark designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The programme will feature Usonian Structures, composed by saxophonist and arranger Andy Farber—the work is inspired by Wright’s organic and functional design philosophy. A special screening of Birdman, the Academy Award–winning film directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu and featuring a celebrated jazz score by Antonio Sánchez, will also be presented live in concert on 27 April by the composer, highlighting the connection between jazz and cinematic storytelling.
The Events will take place around the world through organizing partners in over 190 countries and all 50 U.S. states. United, the International Jazz Day Global Airline Partner, headquartered in Chicago is providing air transportation and additional support for artists and educators. Major programmes within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network expand the global footprint of International Jazz Day—with U.S. member cities such as Kansas City and the newly designated New Orleans—fostering international cultural exchange and promoting creativity as a driver of sustainable urban development. Most events are free and open to the public. Additional programs will be streamed throughout the day on 30 April.A full week of featured events from April 25–May 2 will spotlight the musicians, neighborhoods and institutions that keep jazz thriving across Chicago, all leading up to the International Jazz Day Global All-Star Concert on April 30th.
Led by iconic pianist Herbie Hancock and hosted by Academy Award-winning actor Jeremy Irons, this concert will bring together an extraordinary lineup of renowned jazz, blues, classical, and hip-hop artists from around the world. Among those set to perform: Arqam Al Abri (UAE), John Beasley (USA), Dee Dee Bridgewater (USA), A Bu (China), Terri Lyne Carrington (USA), Kurt Elling (USA), José James (USA), Rhani Krija (Morocco), John McLaughlin (UK), Hélène Mercier (France/Canada), Marcus Miller (USA), Linda May Han Oh (Australia), John Pizzarelli (USA), Dianne Reeves (USA), Arturo Sandoval (USA), Naseer Shamma (Iraq), Danilo Pérez (Panama), and Varijashree Venugopal (India). The Additional artists announced are CLAUDIA ACUÑA, AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE, JOHN BEASLEY (MUSICAL DIRECTOR), LAKECIA BENJAMIN,TK BLUE, RICHARD BONA, DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER, BILLY CHILDS, MOREIRA CHONGUIÇA, SHEMEKIA COPELAND,DAR GNAWA, MANDISI DYANTYIS, ABDELLAH EL GOURD, KURT ELLING, ANTONIO FARAÒ, MELODY GARDOT, JAMES GENUS, TERREON GULLY, HERBIE HANCOCK, JAZZMEIA HORN, JEREMY IRONS (HOST),JOHNAYE KENDRICK,JK KIM,RHANI KRIJA, FEMI KUTI, ROMÁN LAJARA, MAGNUS LINDGREN,ROMERO LUBAMBO,MARCUS MILLER,YASUSHI NAKAMURA, PHILIPPE POWELL, SHARP RADWAY, TROY ROBERTS, ANTONIO SERRANO, JALEEL SHAW, JAHARI STAMPLEY, JOE LOUIS WALKER. Register to participate and watch the livestream on YouTube or Facebook!
Global Celebrations: In Argentina, Australia, Belarus, Belize, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Czechia, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Namibia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Rwanda, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo,Trinidad and Tobago, Turkiye, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela, Zambia several concert will be held. View the Jazz Day 2026 upcoming Events!
On May 3rd, 2026, ‘In the Key of Peace’: UNESCO, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and C asean to host International Jazz Day 2026 Celebration in Bangkok. The evening features the award-winning Horwang School Big Band, the multinational C asean Consonant, and Bangkok Big Band, with special appearances by Koh Mr. Saxman and Sax Pack Girl. Join us for a celebration of music and the art of listening across different cultures. Learn more.
On April 30th 2026, In Samoa, UNESCO supports the celebration of International Jazz Day 2026 in Samoa with Samoana Jazz Rising, a vibrant and dynamic event to be held at the Tiapapata Art Centre in Apia. Free and open to the public, the celebration invites communities across Samoa to join a global movement highlighting the power of jazz.This year’s celebration is particularly significant, marking the 15th anniversary of International Jazz Day and the centenary of jazz icon Miles Davis. In Samoa, Samoana Jazz Rising, organized in collaboration with members of the Samoana Jazz and Arts Festival community, will bring together musicians from Samoa, American Samoa, and across the Pacific. The event offers a dynamic platform for musical exchange, creativity, and community participation. The programme will feature a diverse lineup of artists, including Stuart Wallace, Michael Tamanikaiyaroi and the Sinalei Strings Band. The event offers a dynamic platform for musical exchange, creativity, and community participation. The celebration begins with an interactive educational exchange session—an open and inclusive space welcoming young learners, as well as emerging and established musicians of all backgrounds and disciplines, to explore jazz through an open jam and collaborative learning. This session offers a unique opportunity for participants to experience jazz as a living, evolving art form. The evening continues with a concert showcasing local and regional talent, highlighting the richness of jazz in the Pacific and blending global influences with local cultural expressions. Samoa has a longstanding connection to jazz, dating back to the early twentieth century and reflected in pioneering artists such as Mavis Rivers, the “Queen of Jazz of the Pacific.” Through initiatives such as Samoana Jazz Rising, UNESCO continues to support spaces that nurture talent, celebrate cultural diversity, and strengthen connections between global and local musical traditions. Registrations are strongly encouraged, as spaces are limited. Please register here: SAMOA JAZZ RISING 30 APRIL 2026 REGISTRATION. For more information, please contact Ms Sara Garcia de Ugarte, Culture Programme Specialist, UNESCO Regional Office for the Pacific States (s.ugarte@unesco.org)
Story:
UNESCO International Jazz Day highlights the power of creativity to unlock sustainable urban future.
César López, Cuban musician: “Jazz has created an exquisite cultural exchange”
STATEMENTS:Read the full statement of the UNESCO Director-General; Mr. Khaled El-Enany on International Jazz Day 2026; April 30th.
PODCASTS: Early 1900s: Music historians trace jazz music to early twentieth century New Orleans, where musicians like Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver, and Louis Armstrong borrowed heavily from ragtime, blues, and second-line horn sections from parades. Even New Orleans funeral music inspired early jazz musicians. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
Campaign Materials: A variety of materials for jazz research including books, digitized collection items and free online databases are available. Symbolizing jazz's continued important role as a force for dialogue and diplomacy. Get the campaign materials!
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
HOW TO GET INVOLVED!
PARTNERSHIPS
Proclaimed at UNESCO in 2011 at the initiative of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock, and recognized by the United Nations General Assembly, the celebration of the UNESCO International Jazz Day brings together countries and communities worldwide every year on April 30th. They join forces to celebrate jazz as a universal tool for promoting peace, dialogue among cultures, diversity, and respect for human dignity; eradicating discrimination; fostering gender equality; and promoting individual expression. The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz is UNESCO’s partner in the organization and promotion of International Jazz Day. The organizers also thank for their support the Doris Duke Foundation, the Ford Foundation and United Airlines.
In the lead-up to the 2023 All-Star Global Concert, a series of free, online education programmes will be presented. An array of acclaimed artist-educators will present a multilingual selection of offerings that will emphasize the richness—and relevance—of jazz to learners at all levels. Programming will be available in Arabic, English, French, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish, with topics including music making for kids, improvisation, and the intersection of jazz harmony and diverse international musical traditions.
Participate to the Master classes and educational programs.
Get the complete listing and schedule of education programmes .
The International Day of Jazz is co-organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz is a nonprofit education organization with a mission to offer the world’s most promising young musicians college level training by internationally acclaimed jazz masters and to present public school music education programs for young people around the world. The Institute preserves, perpetuates and expands jazz as a global art form, and utilizes jazz as a means to unite people of all ages, backgrounds and nationalities. All of the Institute’s programs are provided free of charge to students, schools and communities worldwide. These programs use jazz as the medium to encourage imaginative thinking, creativity, a positive self-image, and respect for one’s own and others’ cultural heritage.