North Sea Jazz Festival To Celebrate 50th Anniversary With Cassandra Wilson, The Roots, Joy Crookes, The Isley Brothers & More

The NN North Sea Jazz Festival will be celebrating it’s 50^th anniversary over three days Rotterdam’s Ahoy Centre from July 10^th – 12^th 2026 as the past, present and future of jazz meet.

This is the world’s largest indoor music festival with around 1300 artists across 17 stages to an audience of up to 90,000 each year.

Jazz musicians such as Cassandra Wilson, Charles Lloyd Quartet, Esperanza Spalding, Diana Krall, and Steve Coleman & Five Elements to name a few.

The festival started in 1976 and the very first show included performances from Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, and Stan Getz.

Since that initial show, with only six venues, 300 musicians, and around 9000 visitors, it has grown stride for stride.

It has branched out not just physically, but musically. More acts who are associated with soul, R&B and contemporary music will be performing.

With acts such as The Roots, Joy Crookes, John Legend, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, The Isley Brothers, Jon Batiste, Questlove and Annie & The Caldwells already announced with more to follow.

Also some of the newever voices like Alex Isley, and Adrian Younge will be mking their North Sea debut

Snarky Puppy will be performing their Somni project with the Metropole Orkest conducted by Jules Buckley, and Marcus Miller will be putting on his We Want Miles! The Reunion Tour 2026, featuring Mike Stern, Bill Evans, Mino Cinelu, Russell Gunn, Brett Williams and Anwar Marshall.

The NN North Sea Jazz will also present workshops, interviews, artist signing sessions, showcases for emerging talent and a programme of visual art.

NN North Sea Jazz Festival 2026 Line-Up (more names to be announced in due course):

Friday 10 July

Asaf AvidanBilalDiana Krallesperanza spaldingGrace BowersJalen NgondaJames Brandon Lewis QuartetJon BatisteJoshua Redman QuartetPatricia Brennan SeptetQuestlove & FriendsSienna SpiroSnarky Puppy & Metropole Orkest conducted by Jules BuckleySteve Coleman & Five ElementsThe Isley BrothersThe Roots with special guests Bilal and Jon BatisteVincen Garcia

Saturday 11 July

Alain Pérez y la OrquestaAdekunle GoldAlex IsleyAmaro Freitas TrioAnouar Brahem 'After the Last Sky' with Django Bates, Anja Lechner and Mats EilertsenBill Frisell Trio & Greg TardyCassandra WilsonCharlie PuthEstrella MorenteIncognitoJoy CrookesKieferMarcus Miller presents We Want Miles! with Mike Stern, Bill Evans, Mino Cinelu, Russell Gunn, Brett Williams, and Anwar MarshallNILS PETTER MOLVÆR - KHMERRiley Mulherkar QuartetSelah Sue and The GallandsSun Ra Arkestra

Sunday 12 July

Adrian Younge 'Something About April III'Annie & The CaldwellsCarrtoonsCharles Lloyd QuartetFred Hersch TrioFrenna & The GangHiromi's Sonicwonder John LegendKris Davis TrioKWNMari FroesMei SemonesNate SmithNile Rodgers & CHICPat MethenyRYMDEN - Bugge Wesseltoft, Dan Berglund, Magnus ÖströmSML

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