The North Sea Jazz Festival will return to Rotterdam from 10 to 12 July 2026 for its 50th edition, marking half a century of one of the world’s largest indoor music festivals.
Organised at the Ahoy Centre in the Netherlands, the festival has confirmed a wide-ranging first wave of performers spanning jazz, soul, R&B and contemporary music. Artists announced so far include Cassandra Wilson, Charles Lloyd Quartet, Esperanza Spalding, Joshua Redman, Hiromi’s Sonicwonder, Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, Diana Krall, Jon Batiste, Marcus Miller’s We Want Miles! project, Snarky Puppy with the Metropole Orkest, Steve Coleman & Five Elements, The Roots, Adrian Younge and Sun Ra Arkestra.
Sun Ra Arkestra, who appeared at the inaugural North Sea Jazz Festival in 1976, will return as part of the anniversary celebrations.
The festival first opened its doors on 16 July 1976, hosting around 300 musicians across six venues for an audience of approximately 9,000. The debut line-up featured major figures such as Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie and Stan Getz. Over the decades, North Sea Jazz has grown significantly and now presents around 1,300 artists across 17 stages each year, attracting up to 90,000 visitors.
Alongside headline concerts, the 2026 programme will include workshops, interviews, artist signings, emerging talent showcases and visual art installations, continuing the festival’s tradition of combining performance with education and cultural exchange.
Located in Rotterdam, the festival is accessible from the UK via direct flights from several airports or by train from London St Pancras.
Single-day tickets are due to go on sale on 31 January 2026, with further artist announcements expected in the coming months.
The NN North Sea Jazz Festival 2026 Line-Up announced so far:
Friday 10 July
Asaf Avidan
Bilal
Diana Krall
esperanza spalding
Grace Bowers
Jalen Ngonda
James Brandon Lewis Quartet
Jon Batiste
Joshua Redman Quartet
Patricia Brennan Septet
Questlove & Friends
Sienna Spiro
Snarky Puppy & Metropole Orkest conducted by Jules Buckley
Steve Coleman & Five Elements
The Isley Brothers
The Roots with special guests Bilal and Jon Batiste
Vincen Garcia
Saturday 11 July
Alain Pérez y la Orquesta
Adekunle Gold
Alex Isley
Amaro Freitas Trio
Anouar Brahem ‘After the Last Sky’ with Django Bates, Anja Lechner and Mats Eilertsen
Bill Frisell Trio & Greg Tardy
Cassandra Wilson
Charlie Puth
Estrella Morente
Incognito
Joy Crookes
Kiefer
Marcus Miller presents We Want Miles! with Mike Stern, Bill Evans, Mino Cinelu, Russell Gunn, Brett Williams, and Anwar Marshall
NILS PETTER MOLVÆR – KHMER
Riley Mulherkar Quartet
Selah Sue and The Gallands
Sun Ra Arkestra
Sunday 12 July
Adrian Younge ‘Something About April III’
Annie & The Caldwells
Carrtoons
Charles Lloyd Quartet
Fred Hersch Trio
Frenna & The Gang
Hiromi’s Sonicwonder
John Legend
Kris Davis Trio
KWN
Mari Froes
Mei Semones
Nate Smith
Nile Rodgers & CHIC
Pat Metheny
RYMDEN – Bugge Wesseltoft, Dan Berglund, Magnus Öström
SML
For more info visit www.northseajazz.com/en/program-2026
