2026 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting the events of jazz in the year 2026.

Events

January 15 Ã¢ÂÂ Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) announces Hanno Busch as the recipient of the WDR Jazzpreis 2026, and the Big Band der Humanwissenschaftlichen FakultÃÂ¤t der UniversitÃÂ¤t zu KÃÂ¶ln ('Big Band of the Faculty of Human Sciences at the University of Cologne) as the recipient of the 2026 Nachwuchspreis ('Young Talent Award').
January 28 Ã¢ÂÂ The Melbourne International Jazz Festival announces the appointment of Xani Kolac as its 2026 Take Note programme leader.
January 29 Ã¢ÂÂ Jazz at Lincoln Center announces that Wynton Marsalis is to stand down as its artistic director in July 2027.
February 1 - The 68th Annual Grammy Awards occur, with the best recordings, compositions, and artists from August 31, 2024, to August 30, 2025 being eligible.
February 27 Ã¢ÂÂ Jazz St. Louis announces that Victor Goines has stood down as its president and chief executive officer.
April 23Ã¢ÂÂ25 Ã¢ÂÂ The Jazzahead festival takes place in Bremen, Germany.
May 29Ã¢ÂÂ31 Ã¢ÂÂ The Java Jazz Festival takes place in its new venue, the Nusantara International Convention Exhibition, PIK 2.

The 68th Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 1, 2026, honoring the best recordings, compositions, and artists from August 31, 2024, to August 30, 2025, as chosen by the members of the Recording Academy.

January 26
Richie Beirach, American jazz pianist and composer, 78
Ian McDougall, Canadian jazz trombonist and academic, 87
February 2 Ã¢ÂÂ Ken Peplowski, American jazz clarinetist and tenor saxophonist, 66
February 7 Ã¢ÂÂ KÃÂ¥re GrÃÂ¸ttum, Norwegian jazz pianist and composer, 92
February 9 Ã¢ÂÂ Michel Portal, French jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, and composer, 90
March 12 Ã¢ÂÂ Keith Ingham, ]English jazz pianist, 88
March 21 Ã¢ÂÂ Steve Houben, Belgian jazz saxophonist and flutist, 76