Madison Jazz Festival 2026
Get ready to get things started at the 2026 Madison Jazz Festival. With a mix of free and ticketed events across nine days, experience everything from cool bossa nova to colossal bop, from world fusion wonders to the future of funk, performed by international stars, best-kept-secret industry insiders, and local favorites. And don’t forget to come to the Terrace on June 26–27 for acts all afternoon and evening.
Check out these highlights:
- Headlining on the Terrace, Nate Smith invites you to hang as friends jam, while trombone legend Wycliffe Gordon keeps golden age charts fresh and vital today.
- Stepping into her own after years in Stephen Colbert’s house band, Endea Owens & The Cookout make some of today’s most buzzworthy and versatile jazz.
- A collective of studio- and tour-band musicians from superstar acts in pop, R&B, hip hop, and more, Ghost-Note pushes the boundaries of funk.
- Hometown talent Canção performs breezy, sophisticated bossa nova with its own twist.
The Madison Jazz Fest is presented by the Wisconsin Union Theater and Arts + Literature Laboratory. Visit MadisonJazzFestivalWI.org for more information about all nine days of the festival (coming soon)!
With support from:
The Cap Times, Evjue Foundation, Madison Arts Commission, Dane Arts, Madison Music Collective, Madison Jazz Society, New Bridge Madison, MG&E, WMTV
With additional support from the Wisconsin Arts Board, Diane Ballweg, and the Endres Mfg. Company Foundation
Upcoming Events
