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From 10 to 12 July 2026, Rotterdam Ahoy will once again be transformed by the sounds of North Sea Jazz. This edition is particularly special, as the festival is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
To mark the occasion, the festival organisers have put together an impressive line-up featuring international stars, jazz legends and some of the most exciting emerging artists on the scene today.
Friday 10 July features performances from Diana Krall, esperanza spalding, Jalen Ngonda, Jon Batiste and The Isley Brothers. The Roots will also take to the stage in Rotterdam for a special show featuring special guests Bilal and Jon Batiste. Questlove is also on the bill that evening with Questlove & Friends.
Saturday brings a vibrant mix of jazz, soul, pop and world music to Ahoy. Charlie Puth is among the headline acts, alongside Joy Crookes, Incognito, Cassandra Wilson and Selah Sue. Visitors can also look forward to Marcus Miller's special project We Want Miles!, a tribute to the legendary Miles Davis.
On Sunday, the festival weekend concludes with performances by John Legend, Frenna, Nile Rodgers & CHIC and guitar icon Pat Metheny. Hiromi's Sonicwonder, Nate Smith and Adrian Younge are also set to perform on the festival's final day.
In addition to the concerts, visitors can enjoy interviews, clinics, art installations and the Open Stage, where emerging talent gets the chance to step onto the stage themselves. During the festival, the Paul Acket Award will also be presented to Brazilian pianist Amaro Freitas.
The celebrations continue long after the concerts end. Each festival day wraps up with a special NSJ50 Afterparty. On Friday, Questlove takes over the decks, followed on Saturday by Gilles Peterson. On Sunday, Anderson .Paak closes the anniversary weekend as DJ Pee .Wee.
North Sea Jazz 2026 will take place on Friday 10, Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 July at Rotterdam Ahoy. With more than 150 performances, international headline artists and a festive anniversary edition, this year’s festival promises to be one of the highlights of Rotterdam’s summer events calendar.
