The Only Radio Station that Plays Only Live Jazz, Big Band, Swing & Vocal Jazz… Every Song, the Live Version.
The world of jazz is already humming with anticipation as 2025 and 2026 shape up to be two of the most significant years for global jazz culture in recent memory. From massive festival announcements to international milestones and new initiatives connecting legendary jazz cities, the global stage is alive—and The Improv Café is here to spotlight it all.
As always, everything we feature is inspired by the same spirit that drives The Improv Café Radio, where every track is a live performance. No studio takes. No overdubs. Just real jazz, captured in real rooms, from smoky clubs to grand festival stages.
And that energy is exactly what defines the next two years of jazz worldwide.
Chicago Named Global Host City for International Jazz Day 2026
The Improv Café — Only Live Jazz, Big Band, Swing, and Vocal Jazz. Every Song, the Live Version.
The jazz world is already buzzing with anticipation for International Jazz Day 2026, and the biggest news is that Chicago has been named the Global Host City for the 15th-anniversary celebration on April 30, 2026. A city synonymous with jazz history, Chicago will come alive with performances, educational programs, discussions, and workshops, culminating in the All-Star Global Concert, once again directed by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock.
At The Improv Café, we celebrate this milestone as part of our ongoing mission: we play only live Jazz, Big Band, Swing, and Vocal Jazz, and every track you hear is the live version—capturing the energy, spontaneity, and magic of the moment. Just like Chicago’s historic jazz venues, our station brings the essence of live performance directly to you.
Looking Back: International Jazz Day 2025 – Abu Dhabi
The 2025 celebration in Abu Dhabi, UAE, set a high bar for global jazz engagement. The All-Star Global Concert featured unforgettable live performances by Dee Dee Bridgewater, Marcus Miller, and John McLaughlin, among others. From improvisational solos to sweeping ensemble arrangements, the live energy of that event reflected exactly the philosophy we uphold at The Improv Café—that jazz is at its heart a live experience, meant to be felt in the room and in the moment.
Industry and Awards Highlights
NEA Jazz Masters 2026
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has announced its 2026 Jazz Masters, one of the most prestigious honors in the jazz world:
- Carmen Lundy – Vocalist and composer
- Patrice Rushen – Keyboardist and trailblazer in jazz and R&B fusion
- Airto Moreira – Percussionist and Brazilian jazz innovator
- Rhonda Hamilton – Broadcaster and promoter of live jazz
These luminaries will be celebrated with a live concert in April 2026, reaffirming the vitality and relevance of jazz as a global art form.
Jazz Congress 2026
The annual Jazz Congress, a gathering of artists, industry leaders, and media representatives, returns January 7–8, 2026, continuing its role as a hub for collaboration and innovation. Early bird registration opened in August 2025, signaling strong interest and global participation.
Jazz-Con 2025: A Digital Jazz Revolution
In September 2025, Jazz-Con 2025 debuted as a virtual festival and conference, highlighting the intersection of jazz, culture, and technology. This new platform showcases the genre’s adaptability, exploring how live performance and digital innovation can coexist—a philosophy mirrored daily at The Improv Café, where live jazz reaches listeners in real time across the globe.
Major International Festivals and Seasons 2025–2026
Jazzahead! – Bremen, Germany
Celebrating its 20th anniversary from April 22–25, 2026, Jazzahead! is the world’s largest jazz trade fair and festival. Sweden is featured as the partner country, bringing its vibrant jazz scene to a global audience.
Havana International Jazz Festival – Cuba
Scheduled January 27–February 2, 2026, Havana’s festival promises a unique fusion of Afro-Cuban rhythms and international jazz standards. Live ensembles, workshops, and jam sessions define the experience—perfectly aligned with The Improv Café’s live-only philosophy.
Jazz at Lincoln Center – New York City, USA
The 2025–2026 season, titled “Mother Africa”, explores African cultural influences on American jazz. From orchestral performances to intimate ensemble shows, every concert emphasizes the live improvisation that gives jazz its heartbeat.
Santa Monica International Jazz Festival – USA
Presented by BroadStage in 2026, this new festival aims to spotlight both rising talents and established legends, emphasizing live performance across multiple venues.
Palm Springs International Jazz Festival – USA
Scheduled for February 2026, this festival will feature Lisa Fischer, Esperanza Spalding, and other live jazz luminaries, offering audiences the kind of raw, dynamic performances we champion at The Improv Café.
Java Jazz Festival – Indonesia
The official 2026 edition is already being promoted online, promising another immersive celebration of live jazz across multiple stages and genres.
Cape Town International Jazz Festival – South Africa
The 2025 festival showcased world-class talent like Black Coffee and Kem, blending local and international jazz traditions in electrifying live performances.
Why Live Jazz Matters
From Chicago to Havana, Cape Town to Bremen, one thing is clear: the true essence of jazz lives in its live performance. Every improvisation, solo, and collective groove carries energy that recordings cannot fully replicate. That’s why at The Improv Café, we remain committed to playing only live Jazz, Big Band, Swing, and Vocal Jazz. Every song you hear is the live version, keeping the spirit of global jazz festivals alive for every listener, every day.
As International Jazz Day 2026 approaches, and with the city of Chicago at the heart of this historic celebration, the global jazz community will once again unite to honor the improvisational art form that has inspired generations. Join us at The Improv Café as we bring the live festival experience to your home, celebrating the spontaneity, passion, and pure joy of live jazz—because nothing else truly captures the magic.
Major Festival Announcements for 2025–2026
Jazz festivals continue to be the heartbeat of the global jazz scene, each one celebrating improvisation in its purest form. Below is a full sweep of the biggest international events confirmed for 2025 and 2026.
North Sea Jazz Festival (Rotterdam, Netherlands)
2026 Dates: July 10–12
The world’s most influential indoor jazz festival returns with a full slate in 2026. The 2025 lineup featured a cross-generational mix of giants: Herbie Hancock, Mary J. Blige, Norah Jones, and Kamasi Washington, set against Rotterdam’s legendary waterfront stages.
Expect 2026 to push the boundaries even further with expanded programming, avant-garde showcases, and collaborations that only happen at North Sea.
Montreux Jazz Festival (Montreux, Switzerland)
2026 Dates: July 3–18
Montreux remains the pinnacle of live jazz performance—the recorded birthplace of countless iconic live albums. The 2026 edition spans over two weeks, offering everything from riverside acoustic sessions to massive auditorium concerts.
For fans of live recordings—The Improv Café’s specialty—Montreux continues to be sacred ground.
Newport Jazz Festival (Newport, Rhode Island, USA)
2026 Dates: July 31–August 2
A pillar of American jazz history, Newport promises a 2026 edition filled with legends, innovators, and boundary-pushers. Its harbor-side stages have hosted every major jazz icon in history, and its modern lineups continue that legacy with smart, fresh programming.
Detroit Jazz Festival (Detroit, USA)
2026 Dates: September 4–7
The world’s largest free jazz festival returns with another powerhouse lineup. Detroit has already revealed its star-studded 2025 roster: Branford Marsalis, Kenny Barron, and Artist-In-Residence Jason Moran.
Expect 2026 to continue the festival’s reputation for bold programming, world premieres, and electrifying live improvisation.
Havana Jazz Festival (Havana, Cuba)
2026 Dates: January 24–February 1
Travel packages are already in circulation for the 2026 festival, one of the most rhythmically rich jazz celebrations on earth. Havana’s stages pulse with Afro-Cuban traditions, descarga sessions, and all-night jam culture.
For lovers of high-energy, deeply percussive live jazz—this one is unmissable.
Additional Global Festivals (2025–2026 Snapshot)
Beyond the major headliners, a wave of international festivals has also announced their dates:
- Kelburn Garden Party 2026 – Largs, UK
July 2–6, 2026 - Elbjazz 2026 – Hamburg, Germany
July 2026 (full details to be announced) - Numerous additional global festivals revealing 2025 and 2026 schedules through Music Festival Wizard and other industry outlets.
Other Global Jazz Headlines
Ensemble Arts Philly Announces 2025–2026 Season
A packed lineup featuring Samara Joy, Béla Fleck, and Kurt Elling marks one of the organization’s most ambitious jazz seasons yet.
The Jazz Generations Initiative
A groundbreaking program connecting the jazz communities of New York and New Orleans, blending education, performance, cultural exchange, and multidisciplinary arts programming.
It’s a modern tribute to jazz lineage—past, present, and future.
The Improv Café: Celebrating LIVE Jazz Around the World
Every festival listed above shares one sacred truth: the live performance is king.
And that’s exactly why The Improv Café exists.
🎺 We only play LIVE Jazz, LIVE Big Band, LIVE Swing, and LIVE Vocal Jazz.
🎙️ Every song—no exceptions—is the live version.
🌍 Just like the festivals and global events we spotlight.
As 2025 and 2026 unfold, we’ll continue to bring audiences closer to the sound of real musicians, on real stages, creating real magic in the moment.
Because jazz isn’t just music—it’s an experience.
And at The Improv Café, you hear it the way it was meant to be heard.