About the festival
The world's longest continuously running jazz festival, held on the Monterey County Fairgrounds since 1958. The 69th edition packs more than 70 performances across five stages into three days, with 2026 headliners including Herbie Hancock and Ron Carter.
66artists
5stages
3days
40,000attendees
Lineup
66 artists
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Alexa Tarantino QuartetJazzAlexa Tarantino is an American saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist known for her work in straight-ahead and contemporary jazz. Leading her own quartet, she has recorded for Posi-Tone Records, showcasing versatility across alto, soprano saxophone, and flute.AA
Ambrose Akinmusire QuartetjazzAmbrose Akinmusire is an acclaimed jazz trumpeter and composer whose quartet blends adventurous improvisation with lyrical melodicism. Known for albums like "The Imagined Savior Is Far Easier to Paint" and recordings on Blue Note, his work often explores social themes with emotional depth.AT
Artifacts Trio with Tomeka Reid, Nicole Mitchell & Mike Reedavant-garde jazzArtifacts is a Chicago-based avant-garde jazz trio featuring cellist Tomeka Reid, flutist Nicole Mitchell, and drummer Mike Reed. The group blends improvisation with compositions honoring the AACM's creative music legacy, releasing albums such as "Artifacts" and "...and then there's this."
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Charles Lloyd Quartet: Forest Flower 60th AnniversaryModal JazzCharles Lloyd Quartet's "Forest Flower" is a landmark 1966 live recording featuring Lloyd on tenor saxophone with pianist Keith Jarrett, bassist Cecil McBee, and drummer Jack DeJohnette, celebrated for bridging modal jazz with the emerging rock and psychedelic era. This anniversary edition revisits that influential Monterey Jazz Festival performance.IJ
Isaiah J. Thompson QuartetJazzIsaiah J. Thompson is an American jazz pianist known for his swinging, bebop-rooted style, often leading a quartet that showcases his interpretations of jazz standards and original compositions. He is a graduate of the Juilliard School's jazz program.JA
Joey Alexander QuartetjazzJoey Alexander is an Indonesian-born jazz pianist who rose to prominence as a child prodigy, performing with a quartet format that showcases his virtuosic improvisation. Known for blending post-bop jazz traditions with youthful creativity, he has earned Grammy nominations for his recordings.
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Kris Davis Trio featuring Robert Hurst & Johnathan Blakeavant-garde jazzKris Davis is an acclaimed avant-garde jazz pianist and composer known for her adventurous harmonic language and rhythmic complexity. In this trio setting she performs with bassist Robert Hurst and drummer Johnathan Blake, both accomplished jazz musicians known for their work with numerous leading artists.LM
Linda May Han Oh Trio with Fabian Almazan & Mark Whitfield Jr.jazzLinda May Han Oh is a Malaysian-born, Australian-raised, New York-based jazz bassist and composer known for her intricate compositions and virtuosic playing. This trio configuration pairs her with pianist Fabian Almazan and drummer Mark Whitfield Jr., known for adventurous, interplay-driven modern jazz.
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Melissa Aldana QuartetJazzMelissa Aldana is a Chilean tenor saxophonist who leads her own quartet, blending post-bop with lyrical, harmonically rich improvisation. She was the first woman and first South American to win the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition, in 2013.MN
Meshell Ndegeocello: America 250 CommissionfunkMeshell Ndegeocello is a genre-defying American bassist, singer, and songwriter known for blending funk, soul, jazz, and hip-hop since the early 1990s. The "America 250" reference relates to a commissioned work tied to the United States' semiquincentennial, though specific details of that commission are not well documented.MM
Michael MayojazzMichael Mayo is an American vocalist known for his genre-blending style that fuses jazz with soul, R&B, and pop influences. He gained attention through collaborations with artists like Jacob Collier and released his debut album "Bones" in 2021 on Mack Avenue Records.NF
Nick Finzer Presents Legacy: A Tribute to J.J. JohnsonJazzNick Finzer is a jazz trombonist, composer, and bandleader known for his modern post-bop compositions. This project pays tribute to J.J. Johnson, the pioneering bebop trombonist, reinterpreting his legacy through Finzer's own ensemble arrangements.PB
Patrick Bartley QuartetjazzPatrick Bartley is a jazz saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist known for blending bebop and post-bop traditions with hip-hop, funk, and popular music influences. He leads his own quartet, showcasing virtuosic improvisation alongside genre-crossing arrangements of contemporary songs.
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Ron Carter Foursight QuartetjazzRon Carter Foursight Quartet is a jazz ensemble led by legendary double bassist Ron Carter, known for his extensive work with Miles Davis and as one of the most recorded bassists in jazz history. The quartet showcases his sophisticated, melodic bass playing within small-group acoustic jazz settings.RR
Rufus Reid with the Next Generation Jazz OrchestraJazzRufus Reid is a veteran double bassist, composer, and educator known for decades of work in straight-ahead and big band jazz. Leading the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, he blends composition and bass leadership in large-ensemble jazz settings.SC
Shemekia Copeland BandBluesShemekia Copeland is an acclaimed American blues singer known for her powerful voice, daughter of blues guitarist Johnny Copeland. She has released numerous albums blending traditional blues with contemporary roots, rock, and Americana influences, earning multiple Blues Music Awards.UC
USAF Commanders Jazz EnsembleBig BandThe Commanders is the official jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Band, based in Washington, D.C. The group performs big band swing, contemporary jazz, and popular standards for military and public events across the country.Set times
Set Times & Schedule
Full running order in the festival's local time.
Friday, 25 September
Tim Jackson Garden Stage
West End Stage
- 15:45 Alexa Tarantino Quartet
- 17:30 Patrick Bartley Quartet
- 19:15 Melissa Aldana Quartet
- 21:00 Ron Carter Foursight Quartet
Pacific Jazz Café
- 16:30 JAZZ HOUSE Big Band
- 18:00 Kate Kortum
- 19:30 Katie Thiroux
- 21:00 Veronica Leahy – Emmanuel Michael Duo
Courtyard Stage
Saturday, 26 September
Pacific Jazz Café
Tim Jackson Garden Stage
- 12:00 Next Generation Women in Jazz Combo directed by Katie Thiroux
- 13:30 SFCM Big Band
- 15:15 Shemekia Copeland Band
- 17:00 Monterey Jazz Regional All-Star Vocal Ensemble
- 17:40 Monterey Jazz Regional All-Star Middle School Combo
- 18:00 Monterey Jazz Regional All-Star Band
- 19:00 Sylvia Cuenca’s Bridging Generations
West End Stage
Jimmy Lyons Stage
Sunday, 27 September
Tim Jackson Garden Stage
- 11:15 Gospel with Tammy Hall & Friends
- 13:00 Dabin Ryu Trio
- 14:45 Gregory Hutchinson’s Kind of Now
- 16:45 Denise Thimes Experience
- 18:15 Monterey Jazz Regional All-Star Combo
- 19:15 aja monet
Courtyard Stage
Jimmy Lyons Stage
Pacific Jazz Café
West End Stage
Going to Monterey Jazz Festival? Pick your must-sees and Setline builds your day. Clash warnings included, and it all works with no signal.
Get the appGetting there
Where it happens
The full venue map lives in the app. Stages, bars, water and toilets, offline the whole weekend.
LocationMonterey, CA, United States
DatesSep 25, 2026 - Sep 27, 2026Doors and set times in the schedule above
