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Press Releases

Line-up Announced for 54th Annual Stanford Jazz Festival, Jun 21-Jul 31

March 9, 2026 | By April Thibeault | AMT PR | april@amtpublicrelations.com

 

54TH ANNUAL STANFORD JAZZ FESTIVAL PRESENTS SIX WEEKS OF VIBRANT LIVE MUSIC ON STANFORD UNIVERSITY CAMPUS, JUN 21-JUL 31
 

Centennial Celebrations: Miles @ 100 featuring Jeremy Pelt  
Jimmy Heath @ 100 with Jeb Patton and David Wong

Veteran Masters Billy Childs and Branford Marsalis Lead Their Respective Quartets

Acclaimed Latin Jazz Artists including Luciana Souza, Marcel Camargo, Camila Meza, Yilian Cañizares Aldo López-Gavilán

Today’s Top Vibraphonists: Stefon Harris Sasha Berliner 

Tickets go on sale April 3 at StanfordJazz.org.

Palo Alto, CA (For Release 03.09.26) — The Stanford Jazz Workshop today announced details of the 54th annual Stanford Jazz Festival taking place Sunday, June 21 to Friday, July 31, 2026, across multiple venues on the sprawling Stanford University campus. Having grown in both size and reputation since it first began in 1972, the Festival–which draws thousands of fans to the Bay Area–has become a destination for all arts lovers in one of the most bucolic settings in the nation. This year’s Festival celebrates jazz’s rich roots and its global connections, featuring an exceptional line-up spanning generations and styles. From acclaimed world-class headliners such as Billy Childs, George Cables, Branford Marsalis, and Anat Cohen to local Northwest natives such as The Westerlies, Nick Rossi, Nicolas Bearde, and Sasha Berliner, to innovative jazz fusings with Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, and Indian music, the 25 events include Festival debuts, world premieres, family-friendly concerts, and more. As always, the Festival presents annual fan favorites including SJW alum Taylor Eigsti, Guitar Night, Ruth Davies’ Blues Night, and the All-Star Jam session closing out the Festival in what has become the biggest jazz celebration of the summer. For program details, updated line-ups, and tickets, please visit StanfordJazz.org/stanford-jazz-festival.

Quote from Cory Combs,    
Executive Director, Stanford Jazz Workshop: 
“This year’s Festival brings together some of the most powerful voices in jazz today, led by the visionary Branford Marsalis Quartet on June 26. Branford’s singular quartet has defined modern jazz for decades, and we’re honored to welcome them back to Stanford. From that opening weekend forward, the Festival reflects jazz as a living, global force, honoring its deep American roots while embracing the international sounds shaping its future. From Indian Jazz Journey to bold contemporary voices presented throughout the six-week Festival, audiences will experience the full heartbeat of this music, reflecting its diversity, dynamism, and unifying power.”

2026 Stanford Jazz Festival Performers
Aldo López-Gavilán
 · Anat Cohen · Anisha Rush · Ben Flocks · Billy Childs · Branford Marsalis · Camila Meza · Christina Galisatus · Dan Wilson · Dr. David Hart · David Wong · George Brooks · George Cables · Gretchen Parlato · Jeb Patton · Jeremy Pelt · Luciana Souza · Mahesh Kale · Marcel Camargo · Marcus Shelby · Michael Mayo · Nick Rossi · Nicolas Bearde · Ruth Davies · Sasha Berliner · Sean “Mack” McDonald · Stefon Harris · Taylor Eigsti · Victor Lin · The Westerlies · Yilian Cañizares · Zack Grooves

Plus surprise special guests and more!

 

* * *
 
About Stanford Jazz Workshop
Founded in 1972 by saxophonist, arranger, and educator Jim Nadel, Stanford Jazz Workshop is an intensive summer education program staffed with acclaimed musicians who are also many of the Stanford Jazz Festival’s featured performers. The synergy between the Workshop and the Festival manifests at every concert, as all the students enrolled in a session receive complimentary tickets, bringing an infusion of youth to the venues.
 
About Stanford Jazz Festival
Over the past 54 years, the Stanford Jazz Festival has consistently presented the finest performers on the scene. Audiences have heard legendary performances by Dizzy Gillespie, McCoy Tyner, and Stan Getz, along with virtuosic modern masters like Joshua Redman, Ambrose Akinmusire, and Taylor Eigsti. The Festival is unique and adventurous, presenting over 30 celebrated artists and bands over several weeks. From family-friendly matinees to groundbreaking premieres, the Stanford Jazz Festival proudly keeps the torch of live jazz burning bright.           
      
* * *

2026 STANFORD JAZZ FESTIVAL
When: 
Sunday, June 21 – Friday, July 31, 2026
Where: Dinkelspiel Auditorium (471 Lagunita Drive) and Campbell Recital Hall (541 Lasuen Mall) on the Stanford University campus, Stanford, CA 94305
Tickets: Tix go on sale to the general public at 10:00 a.m. PST on Friday, April 3, 2026. To reserve, visit StanfordJazz.org.
 
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