HAPPENING 10 to 12 July 2026 | Rotterdam’s biggest indoor music weekend is back at Ahoy, and this time it comes with a milestone. NN North Sea Jazz turns 50 in 2026, a birthday edition that promises the usual genre sprawl from jazz and blues to soul, funk, hip hop and R&B, plus a few anniversary flexes along the way.
NN North Sea Jazz in Rotterdam
North Sea Jazz began in 1976 in The Hague, drawing around 9,000 visitors for a line-up that included Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie and Stan Getz. Since 2006, the festival has been staged at Rotterdam Ahoy, where everything fits under one roof, and you can move from one room to the next without losing the thread of your day.
The organisers now describe the event as a major international gathering with 17 stages and around 90,000 visitors, bringing in artists from across the jazz spectrum and far beyond it.
Past performers at North Sea Jazz Rotterdam
Over the years, the festival has booked a wide sweep of names, from jazz greats to pop and soul headliners. Past performers mentioned in our earlier coverage include Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Erykah Badu, Alicia Keys, B.B. King, Wynton Marsalis, Candy Dulfer and Jamiroquai.
2026 is the 50th anniversary edition
North Sea Jazz is marking its 50th anniversary in 2026, and the first wave of artists signals a line up designed to pull different generations into the same rooms.
The festival has confirmed early names including John Legend, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, The Isley Brothers, Jon Batiste, The Roots with special guests, Charlie Puth, Marcus Miller presents We Want Miles!, plus a deep bench of jazz artists including Diana Krall, Joshua Redman, Snarky Puppy with Metropole Orchestra, Cassandra Wilson, Pat Metheny, esperanza spalding and Sun Ra Arkestra. More names are still to come.
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First announced artists by day
Friday 10 July 2026
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 Orchestra 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 2026
Alain Pérez y la Orquesta; Adekunle Gold; Alex Isley; Amaro Freitas Trio; Anouar Brahem After the Last Sky; Bill Frisell Trio & Greg Tardy; Cassandra Wilson; Charlie Puth; Estrella Morente; Incognito; Joy Crookes; Kiefer; Marcus Miller presents We Want Miles!; Nils Petter Molvær Khmer; Riley Mulherkar Quartet; Selah Sue and The Gallands; Sun Ra Arkestra.
Sunday 12 July 2026
Adrian Younge; Annie & The Caldwells; Carrtoons; Charles Lloyd Quartet; Fred Hersch Trio; Frenna & The Gang; Hiromi’s Sonic Wonder; John Legend; Kris Davis Trio; KWN; Mari Froes; Mei Semones; Nate Smith; Nile Rodgers & CHIC; Pat Metheny Side Eye III plus; RYMDEN; SML.
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Tickets
The festival has said single day tickets go on sale on 31 January at 10:00. The official ticket page also shows the 3 day early bird weekend ticket is sold out, with day tickets listed “from 31 Jan”.
Location: Rotterdam Ahoy
NN North Sea Jazz takes place at Rotterdam Ahoy in Zuid. If you are coming from Rotterdam Centraal, the simplest option is metro line D or E to Zuidplein, then a short walk.
P.S. Do more than the main festival: North Sea Round Town
If you want jazz across the city rather than only inside Ahoy, North Sea Round Town is the fringe festival that warms up Rotterdam ahead of the main weekend. The 2026 edition runs 25 June to 12 July 2026 across venues and pop up locations.
