Blue Note Jazz Festival New York Unveils 2026 Lineup (EXCLUSIVE)

The complete schedule for New York's Blue Note Jazz Festival 2026 has been unveiled, promising a month-long celebration of sound from June 1 through July 1. The event will utilize two iconic Manhattan stages: the intimate, historic Blue Note Jazz Club in Greenwich Village and the larger Sony Hall near Times Square. This year's eclectic roster bridges genres, featuring soul powerhouse Ledisi, the genre-defying bounce artist Big Freedia, dynamic vocalist Durand Bernarr, and R&B songwriter UMI. The international scope is highlighted by acts like the UK's vibrant afrobeat collective Kokoroko and New Orleans' legendary The Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

Alex Kurland, the festival's talent buyer, emphasized its founding principle of artistic discovery. "For fifteen years, our core mission has been to platform visionary and unique musical voices," Kurland noted. "This lineup is a direct reflection of that—a soulful convergence of artists who are often critics' darlings and musicians' musicians." This curatorial philosophy is bolstered by the festival's home base. The Blue Note Jazz Club, which opened in 1981, is widely regarded as one of the world's most prestigious jazz venues, having hosted legends from Dizzy Gillespie to Norah Jones. This heritage provides the modern festival with a credibility that industry observers say is crucial for standing out in a saturated summer events calendar.

Beyond the headliners, the programming is meticulously crafted with deep engagements and thematic events. It includes multi-night residencies for innovators such as Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah—the trumpeter formerly known as Christian Scott, who is renowned for his "stretch music" that blends jazz with West African and hip-hop influences—and the deeply respected Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band. The schedule also incorporates popular weekly gospel brunches featuring the world-famous Harlem Gospel Choir and Sony Hall concerts spanning alternative hip-hop (Arrested Development) and Latin-funk (Ozomatli). This strategic fusion aims to honor jazz traditions while actively courting a new, younger audience, a necessary evolution for the genre's festival ecosystem.

A notable addition to this year's festival is the focus on artist residencies, allowing for more exploratory sets. For instance, Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah's four-night run provides a rare opportunity to witness the evolution of his complex compositions across consecutive performances. This format, a staple at the Blue Note club itself, offers a deeper dive than a standard festival slot and underscores the event's commitment to artistic depth alongside breadth.

Tickets and the full daily schedule are currently available for purchase through the Blue Note's official website. The extensive 2026 lineup is detailed as follows: June 1 at Blue Note — Yuki Chiba; June 1 at Sony Hall — Arrested Development; June 2 & 3 at Blue Note — MonoNeon; June 4, 5, 6 & 7 at Blue Note — Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah; June 4 at Sony Hall — Seedhe Maut; June 6 at Blue Note (Brunch) — Forever Ray; June 7, 14, 21 & 28 at Blue Note (Brunch) — Harlem Gospel Choir; June 10 at Sony Hall — Anuhea; June 11, 12, 13 & 14 at Blue Note — Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band; June 11 at Sony Hall — Cracker; June 13 at Sony Hall — Los Amigos Invisibles; June 15 at Blue Note — Brandee Younger; June 15 at Sony Hall — Harlem Gospel Choir Sing Whitney + Tina; June 16 & 17 at Blue Note — Isaiah Collier; June 16 at Sony Hall — Ozomatli; June 17 at Sony Hall — Swamp Dogg; June 18 at Blue Note — Durand Bernarr; June 18 at Sony Hall — Mario w/ live band; June 19, 20 & 21 at Blue Note — Take 6; June 19 at Sony Hall — The Bad Plus; June 20 at Sony Hall — BLK ODYSSY; June 23 at Sony Hall — The Church; June 24 & 25 at Blue Note — UMI; June 24 at Sony Hall — Big Freedia; June 27 & 28 at Blue Note — Louie Vega: Elements of Life with Special Guests; June 27 at Sony Hall — Cymande; June 29 & 30 at Blue Note — Marcus Gilmore; June 29 at Blue Note — Ibrahim Maalouf; June 30 at Sony Hall — Destin Conrad; July 1 at Sony Hall — Young Gun Silver Fox.