International Jazz Day 2026 Marks 15 Years With All-Star Concert in Chicago and Worldwide Streaming for Fans
CHICAGO, IL — International Jazz Day will celebrate its 15th anniversary in 2026 with an all-star global concert broadcast live from Chicago. UNESCO and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz announced a lineup that includes Gregory Porter, James Morrison, Tiger Okoshi, Mandisi Dyantyis, Antonio Sánchez and Mino Cinélu, among others.
The annual observance takes place on April 30, but the Chicago program stretches into May 3 with performances, educational events and community initiatives. Organizers say the goal is to highlight jazz as a shared language that connects audiences across generations and cultures.
Chicago gets the spotlight with concerts tied to its jazz history
This year’s celebration leans heavily into Chicago’s place in jazz history. The city is being framed as both a symbolic home for the holiday and a living center of the music’s evolution, with references to legends such as Louis Armstrong, King Oliver and Jelly Roll Morton.
Among the local highlights is a Chicago Jazz Orchestra performance at Unity Temple on April 28. The venue itself is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed architectural landmark designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, giving the program a crossover appeal for both music fans and architecture followers.
Film, education and citywide events widen the celebration beyond one stage
Another marquee event will be a live concert presentation of Birdman, the Academy Award-winning film directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu and built around Antonio Sánchez’s jazz score. Sánchez will perform the music live on April 27, underscoring how jazz continues to shape film storytelling.
Organizers say the Chicago programming is part of a broader effort reaching more than 190 countries and all 50 U.S. states. The event will also be streamed worldwide on YouTube, UNESCO platforms, UNTV, jazzday.com, Facebook and other media partners.
A global observance with a big U.S. footprint and a familiar Chicago sponsor
International Jazz Day was established by UNESCO in 2011 and later recognized by the United Nations General Assembly. It is designed to promote peace, dialogue, diversity and respect through jazz, while reaching a massive global audience through live events and media coverage.
Chicago-based United, the International Jazz Day Global Airline Partner, is supporting artist and educator transportation for the anniversary events. UNESCO also points to U.S. Creative Cities Network members such as Kansas City and New Orleans as part of the holiday’s broader American presence.
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