The North Sea Jazz Festival has announced the first wave of artists set to perform at its landmark 50th anniversary edition, with John Legend, Charlie Puth, Nile Rodgers and Questlove among the headline names confirmed for 2026.

Taking place at Rotterdam’s Ahoy Centre from July 10 to 12, the world’s largest indoor music festival will mark five decades of music history with a line-up that spans jazz, soul, R&B and contemporary pop. The anniversary programme brings together global chart-toppers, jazz legends and rising talent, reflecting the breadth that has defined North Sea Jazz since its beginnings in 1976.

Alongside Legend and Puth, the initial announcement includes The Roots, The Isley Brothers, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Jon Batiste, Questlove & Friends, Diana Krall, Esperanza Spalding, Pat Metheny, Snarky Puppy, Sun Ra Arkestra and Cassandra Wilson. Large-scale collaborative projects are also a key feature, including Snarky Puppy performing with the Metropole Orkest, and Marcus Miller presenting We Want Miles! as part of a special reunion tour.

Founded nearly 50 years ago with six venues and fewer than 10,000 visitors, North Sea Jazz has grown into a cornerstone of the international music calendar, welcoming up to 90,000 attendees each year and hosting around 1,300 artists across multiple stages. The 2026 edition will honour that legacy while continuing to spotlight new voices, with debut appearances from artists such as Alex Isley, Sienna Spiro and Adrian Younge.

Across three days, the festival will present more than 150 performances, alongside interviews, workshops, artist signings and visual art programming. Organisers say the anniversary edition is designed to celebrate the past, present and future of jazz and its many offshoots.

Single-day tickets go on sale on Saturday January 31 at 9am GMT, with more artists expected to be announced in the coming months.

https://www.northseajazz.com/nl/

NN North Sea Jazz Festival 2026 Line-Up (more names to be announced in due course):

Friday 10 July

Asaf Avidan
Bilal
Diana Krall
esperanza spalding
Grace Bowers
Jalen Ngonda
James Brandon Lewis Quartet
Jon Batiste
Joshua Redman Quartet
Patricia Brennan Septet
Questlove & Friends
Sienna Spiro
Snarky Puppy & Metropole Orkest conducted by Jules Buckley
Steve Coleman & Five Elements
The Isley Brothers
The Roots with special guests Bilal and Jon Batiste
Vincen Garcia

Saturday 11 July

Alain Pérez y la Orquesta
Adekunle Gold
Alex Isley
Amaro Freitas Trio
Anouar Brahem 'After the Last Sky' with Django Bates, Anja Lechner and Mats Eilertsen
Bill Frisell Trio & Greg Tardy
Cassandra Wilson
Charlie Puth
Estrella Morente
Incognito
Joy Crookes
Kiefer
Marcus Miller presents We Want Miles! with Mike Stern, Bill Evans, Mino Cinelu, Russell Gunn, Brett Williams, and Anwar Marshall
NILS PETTER MOLVÆR - KHMER
Riley Mulherkar Quartet
Selah Sue and The Gallands
Sun Ra Arkestra

Sunday 12 July

Adrian Younge 'Something About April III'
Annie & The Caldwells
Carrtoons
Charles Lloyd Quartet
Fred Hersch Trio
Frenna & The Gang
Hiromi's Sonicwonder 
John Legend
Kris Davis Trio
KWN
Mari Froes
Mei Semones
Nate Smith
Nile Rodgers & CHIC
Pat Metheny
RYMDEN - Bugge Wesseltoft, Dan Berglund, Magnus Öström
SML

Author: Adam Bailey

Adam is a regular contributor for established press release distribution website Release-News.com. He writes on a wide range of topics including music.