More Performances and Events Held in Over 190 Countries Across All Continents
CHICAGOMay 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The 15th International Jazz Day concluded with a historic All-Star Global Concert in Chicago, the 2026 International Jazz Day global host city.
Dee Dee Bridgewater, James Carter, and Gregory Porter perform Ramsey Lewis’s “The In-Crowd” at the International Jazz Day Global Concert in Chicago — © Steve Mundinger
The highly anticipated concert at Chicago’s iconic Lyric Opera House featured over 40 world-renowned artists, including: Kris Bowers, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Till Brönner, Terri Lyne Carrington, James Carter, Emmet Cohen, Jacob Collier, Buddy Guy, Kurt Elling, Béla Fleck, Herbie Hancock, Christian McBride, Marcus Miller, Gregory Porter, Dianne Reeves, and more.
The 2026 All-Star Global Concert paid a vibrant, four-part tribute to the host city Chicago, with each segment reflecting the city’s deep musical heritage. Dee Dee Bridgewater and Gregory Porter set an electrifying tone for Chicago jazz legend Ramsey Lewis with “The In-Crowd.” They were followed by Chicago native Herbie Hancock, who reimagined his crossover hit “Watermelon Man,” seamlessly blending its 1960s blues groove with his later jazz-funk incarnation. The Chicago celebration continued with blues legend Buddy Guy — a defining figure of Chicago’s blues tradition — delivering a powerful rendition of his Grammy-winning “Damn Right, I’ve Got the Blues” alongside his protégé Christone “Kingfish” Ingram. Jacob Collier offered a heartfelt tribute to Quincy Jones with medleys of “She’s Out of My Life” and “Soul Bossa Nova.”
An electrifying choral rendition of Lizz Wright’s “Seems I’m Never Tired of Loving You” was followed by an innovative jazz-hip-hop fusion segment, “Funny Rabbit,” led by Robert Glasper on piano, featuring Burniss “Boom Bishop” Travis II, Justin Tyson, and DJ Jahi Sundance. Next came a radiant performance of Brazilian Bia Ferreira’s “Antes de Ir.” Béla Fleck, true to the title “Touch and Go,” delivered a nimble, exploratory performance that flowed fluidly through bluegrass, jazz fusion, and classical styles. Dianne Reeves brought luminous depth to “In a Sentimental Mood,” capturing the elegance of Duke Ellington’s writing, while Kurt Elling offered a soulful, swinging interpretation of “Dat Dere,” a classic by Bobby Timmons.
As the evening progressed, a series of iconic jazz compositions took center stage. Gonzalo Rubalcaba led a dynamic performance of “Caravan,” followed by Gershwin’s “Summertime,” paying homage to John Coltrane’s transformative interpretation that redefined the piece as a vehicle for intense improvisation. Marcus Miller then paid tribute to his former bandleader Miles Davis with a powerful rendition of “Tutu.” The 2026 International Jazz Day concluded with John Lennon’s enduring peace anthem “Imagine,” bringing the audience to its feet in a celebration of unity through music.
196 countries and all 50 U.S. states celebrated International Jazz Day through performances, educational programs, and community service initiatives.
In the host city of Chicago, International Jazz Day was co-chaired by Quintin Primo III, Michael Reschke, and Andrew Pritzker, with generous support from Capri Capital, GCM Grosvenor, GRoW @ Annenberg Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, The Prime Group, and TAWANI Foundation. International Jazz Day Global Airline Partner United provided air transportation and additional support for artists and educators.
About International Jazz Day: In 2011, UNESCO officially designated April 30 as International Jazz Day to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role in uniting people around the world. International Jazz Day is chaired and led by UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany and legendary jazz pianist and composer Herbie Hancock, who serves as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue. The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz is the lead nonprofit organization responsible for planning, promoting, and producing this annual celebration. International Jazz Day has become a global event, engaging over 1 billion people annually through performances, educational programs, community outreach activities, radio, television, and streaming, as well as electronic, print, and social media.
For more information about International Jazz Day, visit www.jazzday.com and www.unesco.org/jazzday.
Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz