If your summer plans don’t yet include a breezy afternoon, a lawn chair, and a soundtrack that makes you forget to check your phone, consider this your sign. The Newport Jazz Festival returns for its 72nd year, taking over Fort Adams State Park from July 31 through August 2 with a lineup that reads like a love letter to music across generations.
Produced by the Newport Festivals Foundation, this year’s festival ushers in a new chapter under Artistic Director Nate Smith. The acclaimed drummer steps into the role after a decade led by Christian McBride, carrying forward a legacy first shaped by founder George Wein. “Fans and artists alike return each year to this hallowed ground to experience the joy of this Festival’s long-running tradition of diversity, discovery, and artistic virtuosity,” organizers shared.
The 2026 lineup leans into both legacy and forward momentum. Icons like Herbie Hancock anchor the weekend, while boundary-pushing artists including Jon Batiste, Thundercat, and Gary Clark Jr. bring genre-blurring energy to the stage. A special anniversary performance celebrating 100 years of John Coltrane and Miles Davis, featuring Kamasi Washington and Chief Adjuah, adds a meaningful nod to jazz history with a modern edge.
Elsewhere on the bill, names like Lake Street Dive, Robert Glasper with Bilal and Ari Lennox, and Little Simz reflect the festival’s ongoing commitment to showcasing artists who refuse to stay in one lane. Rising voices including Leon Thomas, Sienna Spiro, and Mei Semones round out a weekend designed as much for discovery as it is for nostalgia.
The experience extends past the stages. A limited number of Jazz Lounge passes offer a more elevated way to take it all in, with a dedicated entrance, premium parking, and a shaded lounge overlooking Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay. Inside, guests will find lounge seating, a private bar, and live-streamed stage views for those moments when they want to cool off without missing a beat.
Offstage, the festival continues to make an impact year-round through education and community programming. The Newport Festivals Foundation supports free music lessons, instrument donations, and grants for programs across the country, reinforcing its mission to create moments of hope through music. For more information, visit newportjazz.org.
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