North Sea Jazz Festival

With the final wave of artists now confirmed, North Sea Jazz 2026 has completed one of the most ambitious and genre-blurring line-ups in its history — more than 150 performances spread across 17 stages over three packed days in Rotterdam Ahoy from July 10–12. And honestly? This thing looks absolutely colossal.

Already stacked with names like John Legend, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, The Roots and Pat Metheny, the festival has now added another tidal wave of talent that stretches from cutting-edge jazz and soul to funk, Afrobeat, fusion, hip-hop and experimental sounds.

Friday alone feels like its own major festival. Jazz visionary Robert Glasper joins the bill alongside the explosive grooves of Kokoroko, the boundary-pushing brilliance of Vijay Iyer with Wadada Leo Smith, plus powerhouse performances from The RH Factor and rising jazz sensation Cécile McLorin Salvant presenting Oh Snap.

There’s also serious firepower coming from Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Chris Potter, Larry Grenadier and Eric Harland, while underground energy arrives via Gallowstreet, LA LOM and Y-OTIS. Then, as the night descends into full celebration mode, Questlove takes over the turntables for what promises to be one of the weekend’s defining late-night moments.

Saturday raises the stakes even higher. Afro-fusion giant Burna Boy lands in Rotterdam alongside the hugely anticipated Bright Size Life Reimagined — a once-in-a-lifetime revisiting of Pat Metheny’s landmark 1976 debut, rebuilt for large ensemble with the Tyn Wybenga Brainteaser Orchestra.

Elsewhere, Thundercat brings his cosmic funk universe to the festival, while jazz royalty arrives in the form of Christian McBride, Kenny Barron and Julian Lage sharing a stage together. Add in Joe Armon-Jones, Camila Meza, Tomoki Sanders and another special appearance from Cécile McLorin Salvant performing Book of Ayres, and Saturday becomes almost overwhelming in the best possible way.

Then Sunday closes the festival with a final marathon of world-class music. Cécile McLorin Salvant returns twice — once with the legendary Metropole Orchestra conducted by Jules Buckley and again alongside pianist Sullivan Fortner.

Elsewhere, Dee Dee Bridgewater brings We Exist, SHABAKA unleashes his spiritual jazz intensity, while Terence Blanchard and Ravi Coltrane honour jazz history with MILES / COLTRANE - Legacy. And then comes the closing party.

Under his DJ alias DJ Pee .Wee, Anderson. Paak will close the entire festival with a genre-smashing DJ set that feels like the perfect ending to a weekend built on musical freedom.

For fifty years, North Sea Jazz has refused to stay inside one lane, and this anniversary edition may be the clearest example yet of why the festival remains one of the most important music events anywhere in the world. Jazz legends, future stars, hip-hop innovators, soul icons and fearless experimentalists all colliding under one roof for three days in Rotterdam. This isn’t just a festival line-up. It’s a musical universe.

Tickets, weekend passes and VIP Birdland packages — including premium parking, exclusive lounge access, food experiences and unlimited drinks — are available now via North Sea Jazz Festival