North Sea Jazz Festival

July’s North Sea Jazz Festival has laid on an incredible line-up to celebrate its 50th anniversary and it’s worth considering taking a trip to Rotterdam.

Marcus Miller @Diego Garcia Marquez

Number one on my list would be Marcus Miller, with his ‘We Wants Miles’ Reunion Tour 2026, featuring Mike Stern, Bill Evans, Mino Cinelu, Russell Gunn, Brett Williams and Anwar Marshall.

Held at Rotterdam’s Ahoy Centre from 10-12 July 2026, first artists announced for NN North Sea Jazz Festival include Cassandra Wilson, Charles Lloyd Quartet, Hiromi's Sonicwonder, Esperanza Spalding, Joshua Redman, Bill Frisell, Jon Batiste, Pat Metheny, Snarky Puppy & Metropole Orkest, Diana Krall, Steve Coleman & Five Elements, Sun Ra Arkestra, The Roots, Adrian Younge, The Isley Brothers, Questlove & Friends, Jalen Ngonda, Annie & The Caldwells.

Fifty years ago, on July 16^th 1976, the very first North Sea Jazz Festival opened its doors with six venues, 300 musicians, and around 9000 visitors, and featuring luminaries including Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, and Stan Getz. Since then, the festival has become a cornerstone of international music culture, presenting around 1300 artists across 17 stages to an audience of up to 90,000 each year.

Across three days, NN North Sea Jazz will present more than 150 performances, alongside workshops, interviews, artist signing sessions, showcases for emerging talent and a programme of visual art.

Tickets go on sale Saturday 31 January at 9am GMT https://www.northseajazz.com/nl/