Crowds in Chicago’s Millennium Park (featuring the famous “Bean”) – the city has been tapped to host International Jazz Day 2026 All-Star Global Concert.
UNESCO and the Herbie Hancock Institute just announced Chicago as the 2026 Jazz Day capital, meaning the world’s largest jazz celebration is headed to the birthplace of the blues.
City officials are beyond jazzed, framing it as a cultural coup that honors Chicago’s musical soul: Hosting Jazz Day “reaffirms our status as a cultural capital” and they’re “proud to welcome the world to Sweet Home Chicago”.
Expect a citywide jazz party (and a nice economic encore) as Chicago’s century-old jazz legacy takes the global stage in 2026.