On April 30, the global spotlight will turn to Chicago as the legendary "Windy City" hosts the All-Star Global Concert to mark the 15th anniversary of International Jazz Day. Announced by UNESCO and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, this milestone celebration will bring together a staggering array of international talent to reaffirm jazz as a primary force for unity, intercultural dialogue, and artistic exchange.
The 2026 lineup features an extraordinary roster of performers, including American soul-jazz icon Gregory Porter, Australian multi-instrumentalist James Morrison, Japanese trumpeter Tiger Okoshi, and Martinican percussionist Mino Cinélu. These artists, alongside others from Mexico and South Africa, will perform for a global audience spanning more than 190 countries via live stream.
For UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock, the choice of location is deeply personal. "Bringing this global celebration to Chicago—the city where I was born and first discovered the magic of jazz—makes this moment especially meaningful," Hancock noted, emphasizing the extraordinary partnership built with UNESCO over the last decade and a half.
Chicago’s rich jazz heritage—the home of legends like Louis Armstrong and Jelly Roll Morton—serves as the perfect backdrop for a week of cultural festivities running until May 3. The citywide programming includes high-profile educational initiatives and unique performances, such as a concert by the Chicago Jazz Orchestra at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Unity Temple. This performance will feature Andy Farber’s Usonian Structures, a composition directly inspired by Wright’s revolutionary architectural philosophy.
Additionally, the festivities kicked off with a live-to-film concert of the Academy Award-winning Birdman, featuring composer Antonio Sánchez performing his celebrated percussion score live. This diverse programming highlights jazz's enduring ability to bridge the gap between different art forms and generations.
Established by UNESCO in 2011, International Jazz Day has grown into a global movement reaching over 2 billion people annually. Supported by partners like United Airlines, headquartered in Chicago, the day serves as a reminder that jazz remains a universal language of peace and respect for human dignity. For more information on the global broadcast and local events, fans can visit jazzday.com.
