Jazz in the Chi Festival (School Groups ONLY)
The Jazz in the Chi Festival, presented by the Jazz Institute of Chicago, is an educational event for high school, middle school, and elementary school jazz ensembles.
Presented by: Jazz Institute of Chicago, featuring DePaul University
At the Forum - The Bronzeville Roots of Chicago Jazz
The event positions Forum Café and The Forum as cultural anchors in Bronzeville’s next chapter while honoring the neighborhood’s role in shaping jazz history.
Jazz in the Chi Public Concert
This Evening Concert will bring our Jazz in the Chi educational festival to a conclusion with performances by special guest artists. Open to participants of the festival and members of the jazz community.
Presented by: Jazz Institute of Chicago
Our Jazz Life: A Celebration of the History of Jazz Radio in Chicago
In a Town Hall format, the assembled panel discussions will focus on the eras/decades of jazz radio in Chicago, featuring audio recordings, guest testimonials, photos, and more.
Chicago’s Women in Jazz: The Sound of the City
This collaboration between the Chicago Jazz Alliance and Tammy McCann Presents shifts the spotlight from traditional standards to the vibrant, living legacy of female jazz musicians in Chicago.
Haunts & Heroes, The Legacy and Foundation of Chicago Jazz - a photographic tribute
A mobile exhibition of Chicago Jazz photography.
Celebrating IJD with John Clayton and Steve Wilson
Celebrating International Jazz Day with John Clayton and Steve Wilson, featuring alumni from Ravinia's Steans Institute and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz.
Presented by: Ravinia’s Steans Institute
Chicago Jazz Philharmonic presents ‘Sketches of Spain: Revisited’
The Chicago Jazz Philharmonic celebrates Miles Davis’ centennial birthday with a reworking of the Miles Davis - Gil Evans classic Sketches in Spain by composer and trumpeter Orbert Davis.
Presented by: Chicago Jazz Philharmonic
Chicago Jazz Philharmonic presents ‘Sketches of Spain: Revisited’ | Concert & Panel Discussion
The Chicago Jazz Philharmonic celebrates Miles Davis’ centennial birthday with a reworking of the Miles Davis - Gil Evans classic Sketches in Spain by composer and trumpeter Orbert Davis.
Presented by: Chicago Jazz Philharmonic
WDCB Celebrates IJD with Robert Irving III
WDCB celebrates International Jazz Day with a live broadcast interview and intimate performance by Robert Irving III Trio.
Presented by: 90.9 FM, WDCB
BİRDMAN LIVE, performed by Antonio Sánchez
Celebrate the 12th anniversary of Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014) with Grammy-winning composer Antonio Sánchez.
The original score for Birdman consists entirely of solo jazz percussion written and performed by Sánchez.
Jazz Club Tour Experience
Celebrate International Jazz Day with an evening exploring Chicago’s vibrant jazz scene through the Jazz Club Tour presented by the Jazz Institute of Chicago.
IJD School Matinee Performance in the Austin Community featuring the Ravinia Jazz Scholars and Uniting Voices Chicago
Featuring the Ravinia Jazz Scholars and Uniting Voices Chicago. Open to participating Chicago Public Schools.
Presented by: Ravina Festival and Uniting Voices Chicago
Syncopated Spirits: A Celebration in Blue Notes
Syncopated Spirits: A Celebration in Blue Notes invites the community into an evening of soulful jazz, cultural memory, and vibrant expression.
IJD Neighborhood Jazz Night
Celebrating Jazz in Chicago and International Jazz Day: Neighborhood Jazz Night on Chicago’s South and West Sides.
A South Side Celebration of Chicago Jazz
The South Side Jazz Coalition will present a panel discussion and talkback on the evolution of jazz in Chicago, followed by a performance by an up-and-coming jazz artist and concluding with one of Chicago's favorite jazz artists.
Tulips & Trumpets: A Mile Full of Jazz
Featuring the Ravinia Jazz Scholars and Uniting Voices Chicago. Open to participating Chicago Public Schools.
Presented by: Ravina Festival and Uniting Voices Chicago
World Premiere: “Fannie Lou Hamer: No One Could Contain Her”
The Young Masters are the opening act 5:30 pm, Second Act at 6:30 pm - World Premiere: “Fannie Lou Hamer: No One Could Contain Her” Composed by Ernest Dawkins.
An evening of Jazz at the Paris in Black exhibit at the DuSable Museum
Paris in Black traces the profound journeys of Black artists, writers, performers, and intellectuals who found freedom, inspiration, and transformation in the liberating cultural and social environment of Paris.
Chicago to the World: A Jazz Celebration
Chicago West Community Music Center to Trace City’s Jazz Legacy and Global Impact at 2026 International Day of Jazz Celebration
AACM Great Black Music Ensemble Presents: A Power Stronger Than Itself
AACM plays music of the ancestors honoring Muhal Richard Abrams, Jodie Christian, Steve McCall and Kelan Phil Cohran.
JazzCity at Austin Town Hall
JazzCity is a free concert series initiated in 1997 by the Jazz Institute of Chicago in collaboration with the Chicago Park District to bring people together to listen to Chicago’s top jazz musicians.
Just For A Thrill
Just for a Thrill is a premier jazz showcase that brings together a stellar lineup of top-tier artists to explore the full spectrum of jazz, from timeless standards to innovative new sounds.
Geof Bradfield Sextet: Spirit of Our Ancestors - The Music of Randy Weston and Melba Liston, A Centenary Celebration
As a celebration of the 100th anniversary of Randy Weston and Melba Liston's birth, Geof Bradfield and his Sextet will explore depth and breadth of their collaboration of 40 years.
BandWidth Chicago and CJA Partnership with the Marques Carroll Quintet
BandWith Chicago and Chicago Jesuit Academy are proud to collaborate in presenting a special Jazz education masterclass and performance for students on the West Side of Chicago — offered free of charge to ensure broad community access.
Brown Derby Jazz Series
This special performance invites audiences to experience premier live jazz in an intimate neighborhood setting with extraordinary ambiance, on Chicago’s South Side.
Jazz, Film, and the Improvisational Architecture of Storytelling
In this panel, acclaimed composers and film scorers Herbie Hancock, Terence Blanchard, and Kris Bowers join renowned filmmakers for a wide-ranging conversation on jazz and the language of cinema.
Media Welcome Meetup hosted by Jazz Journalists Association
The Jazz Journalists Association, a non-profit professional organization, welcomes colleagues reporting on International Jazz Day, especially those visiting Chicago from out-of-town
International Jazz Day 2026 All-Star Global Concert
With artistic direction by Herbie Hancock and Kurt Elling, the 15th Anniversary All-Star Global Concert is the centerpiece of International Jazz Day 2026 in Chicago, featuring a record number of acclaimed artists from around the world.
Presented by: Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz and UNESCO
WHPK IJD Global Concert Watch Party
A free community watch party to enjoy the Global Concert.
Isaiah Collier Logan Center School Matinee
Isaiah Collier’s sound is a dynamic flurry of metaphors. He plays his influences, which he describes as a “sonic timemachine; you can’t really put a time or destination on it.”
Presented by: Logan Center for the Arts and UChicago Presents
Isaiah Collier: ‘In Tribute to the Classics of John Coltrane’
Isaiah Collier’s saxophone sound is both fierce and deeply reflective—rooted in tradition yet stretching toward the future. Named Chicago Tribune’s Jazz Artist of the Year and a New York Times Top Ten honoree, his musicianship carries a wisdom beyond his years.
Presented by:UChicago Presents
Mike Reed’s Chicago Inspirations
Curated by Mike Reed, Owner and Director, Chicago’s Constellation and Hungry Brain, the evening includes performances of: The Magic Box: Music inspired by the Chicago bassist Fred Hopkins Drummer-composer Mike Reed explores the legacy of Chicago bassist and AACM member Fred Hopkins with new works, including a commission by Henry Threadgill.
Presented by: Chicago Symphony Orchestra