Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival 2026 - Media Release.

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival has announced its line up for 2026 with more than 100 concerts taking place across the city from Fri 17 – Sun 26 July.

We have received the following media release;

Media Release

Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival 2026

Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival’s 2026 edition is ready to electrify the city with ten days of world- class music. From Friday 17 to Sunday 26 July, the city will come alive as venues across Edinburgh host an incredible line-up of jazz and blues artists from around the globe whilst also showcasing the best of homegrown music. The festival offers a genre-spanning celebration - from bebop to boogie-woogie, funk to soul, trad to hip-hop, swing to searing blues-rock. There is something for every musical mood in this year’s programme.

From Fri 17 – Sun 26 July, the festival will feature:
 More than 100 concerts taking place across the city
 Mardi Gras returns to Edinburgh’s Grassmarket
 Edinburgh Festival Carnival – Edinburgh’s largest multi-cultural event
 Edinburgh Napier University Jazz Summer School
 A host of interactive events including kid’s shows and talks

No other festival covers jazz and blues, across all the styles, with such depth and quality, and with so many unique events. Acclaimed American saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, legendary band The Bad Plus, Louisianan blues star D.K. Harrell, mesmerising Italian singer Simona Parrinello and French guitarist Nguyên Lê are some of the international stars that audiences can look forward to. These names join the previously announced gigs from New Orleans’ Tuba Skinny, American festival favourites Davina and The Vagabonds and Jerron Paxton, a celebration of world music in an Afrobeat Party, and a tribute concert in memory of Edinburgh pianist Brian Kellock.

Scottish artists are the beating heart of the programme, with an array of new and exciting bands, projects and commissions including Seonaid Aitken’s follow up to her award-winning Chasing Sakura; Fergus McCreadie playing a series of duo gigs with his musical heroes, and Konrad Wiszniewski celebrating his Scottish and Polish roots.
The festival will also see new projects from GAÏA, Norman & Corrie, Mantis Ensemble, Finlay Mackenzie and Matt Carmichael, supported by Creative Scotland through the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund.

EJBF prides itself on promoting live events all over the city with highlights including Canadian singer Michelle Willis in Meadowbank, award-winning blues guitarist Martin Harley in Oxgangs, and a jazz party at The Pitt in Granton. These venues join the core portfolio of George Square Spiegeltent and Piccolo tent, St Bride’s Centre, The Jazz Bar and The Queen’s Hall.

This year, the festival focusses on jazz from the Netherlands through our SPARK showcase. The programme features the introspective piano of Harmen Fraanje to the genre-blurring duo of Jesse van Ruller and Maarten Hogenhuis, the cross-cultural sound of Peter Somuah, and the theatrical energy of Ponga. Vocalist Carolina Gemmell and pianist Evan van der Feen centre their partnership on improvisation, while new collaborations highlight the power of artistic exchange, with Femke Mooren joining Ali Watson, Greg Irons and Simon Herberholz.

The festival partners with Edition Records to showcase three of their artists: guitarist Rob Luft, Belgian trombonist Nabou Claerhout, and pianist Sultan Stevenson, alongside a talk exploring the music of Norwegian trumpeter Nils Petter Molvær. Founded in 2008 by Dave Stapleton, Edition Records has grown into one of Europe’s most respected independent jazz labels. The Edition catalogue has attracted widespread acclaim across the world and spans a wide spectrum of contemporary jazz, reflecting both emerging talent and internationally recognised artists.

As part of a series of interactive events, the festival presents Sue McKenzie’s Jazz For Kids workshops as well as and Tenement Jazz Band for Kids interactive shows, as well as talks, jam sessions and more.

The Mardi Gras brings a free afternoon of non-stop entertainment to Edinburgh’s Grassmarket on Saturday 18 July. Bands will perform across multiple stages throughout the afternoon, bringing a taste of New Orleans to the heart of historic Edinburgh.
The Edinburgh Festival Carnival, Scotland’s largest and most flamboyant multicultural event, returns to the city centre on Sunday 19 July with over 800 participants from across the globe and from the heart of Edinburgh.

The full programme will be live from noon on Tuesday 28 April at http://www.ejbf.co.uk and live on social media
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Chair of Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, Councillor Jason Rust said: 
“I am delighted that the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival returns for 2026 with a diverse programme that sees us presenting our events at iconic venues right across the city. I am proud to see us welcoming some of the most exciting international talent to Edinburgh while supporting the brightest and best young talent in Scotland. I am pleased to see us presenting two spectacular free events in the city centre with the Edinburgh Festival Carnival and Mardi Gras both taking place on the opening weekend of the festival.” 

Alan Morrison, Head of Music at Creative Scotland said ;”
This year’s Edinburgh Jazz &; Blues Festival programme reaches north, south, east and west through the city – with the grassroots celebrations of the Mardi Gras and Carnival right at the centre of the compass. The musical map is global in scale, welcoming major international stars from around the world and deepening our understanding of what’s currently hot in jazz from the Netherlands. You can never be too young to start igniting a love of jazz, so it’s great to see the Edinburgh Napier University Summer School and a dedicated series of kids’ workshops and concerts forging the artists and audiences of tomorrow.” 

Culture and Communities Convener Margaret Graham said: 
“Edinburgh Jazz &; Blues Festival has, over many years, grown into one of the most anticipated celebrations of our cultural calendar. Its continued success is testament to the enthusiasm of audiences who return year after year. I’m delighted that Edinburgh will once again play host to an outstanding programme of jazz and blues talent from across the world, whilst championing the richness of Scotland’s own music scene. With two vibrant free events taking place to kick things off and so many performances in many communities across the city, I’ve no doubt that there will be something for everyone to enjoy in this year’s programme.” 

Creative Scotland is the public body that supports culture and creativity across all parts of Scotland, distributing funding provided by the Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Further information at www.creativescotland.com. Follow Creative Scotland on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

The festival receives core funding from City of Edinburgh Council, Creative Scotland and the Scottish Government.