UNESCO designates Chicago as the Host City for International Jazz Day 2026.
Paris, France, May 1, 2025 — UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock have announced that Chicago, USA, will be the host city for the 2026 International Jazz Day World Concert. This event will celebrate its 15th anniversary and coincide with the 250th anniversary of the United States.
“I am delighted to announce that Chicago will host the 2026 International Jazz Day concert. As a major center for jazz music and culture for over a century, this legendary American city has given rise to many great jazz artists. What better way for UNESCO to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States than by showcasing its rich musical heritage to the world?”
— UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay
“I’m excited that Chicago, my hometown, is hosting International Jazz Day 2026. In my Chicago high school auditorium, I discovered jazz, an event that sparked a lifelong passion and commitment to this powerful art form. Jazz opened doors to creativity, self-expression, and freedom. I hope that this Day will inspire young artists and audiences like I was inspired during those formative years.”
— Herbie Hancock, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador
Following the success of the celebrations held in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, the torch has now been passed to Chicago to host the 2026 International Jazz Day “All-Star Global Concert.” Herbie Hancock will direct this event, featuring prominent jazz figures worldwide.
For over a century, Chicago has been a mecca for jazz. As early as the 1920s, jazz musicians traveled up the Mississippi River from New Orleans and discovered the city as a creative hub. Jazz legends such as Louis Armstrong, King Oliver, and Jelly Roll Morton made their names in Chicago, helping to develop the “Chicago style” of jazz. This style emphasizes solos, improvisation, big band arrangements, and a faster, more rhythmic sound, which brings instruments like the saxophone to the forefront. Today, Chicago celebrates its rich jazz heritage through events like the Chicago Jazz Festival and iconic venues such as the Green Mill and the Jazz Showcase, which has been around for 75 years.
In celebration of International Jazz Day 2026, Chicago will host a variety of jazz concerts, educational programs, discussions, and events suitable for audiences of all ages. This initiative will partner with the Chicago Jazz Alliance, the Ravinia Festival, the City of Chicago, the Illinois Arts Council, the State of Illinois, and other organizations.
Source: UNESCO
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