Newport Jazz Festival

The 72nd annual festival returns to Fort Adams State Park from July 31 to Aug. 2, following three consecutive sellouts. The Newport Festivals Foundation produces it.

This year marks the debut of virtuoso drummer, producer, and bandleader Nate Smith as the festival’s artistic director. Smith takes over the role from Christian McBride, who held it for a decade, and from founder George Wein before him.

Herbie Hancock headlines a bill that also features Vulfpeck, Jonathan Batiste Trios, Thundercat, Gary Clark Jr., Lake Street Dive, Robert Glasper featuring Bilal and Ari Lennox, Little Simz, Arlo Parks, Snarky Puppy, and Smith himself. A special anniversary set, “Celebrating 100 Years of Coltrane & Miles,” will feature Kamasi Washington and Chief Adjuah honoring two Newport alumni.

Other performers include Cory Wong with Joshua Redman, Flea and the Honora Band, Leon Thomas, Sienna Spiro, Mei Semones, Celeste, the Charles Lloyd Sky Quartet featuring Jason Moran, Larry Grenadier and Kweku Sumbry, John Scofield and Dave Holland, Anoushka Shankar, Lalah Hathaway, Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science, the Bad Plus on its farewell tour, Atomic Habitz featuring Marcus King, Chris Dave and MonoNeon, and Angine de Poitrine making its U.S. debut.

Also on the bill: Bernard Purdie & Friends, Butcher Brown, the Dip, Gotts Street Park, Dana and Alden, Charlie Hunter and Ella Feingold, the Billy Hart Quartet, Maya Delilah, SML, Mohini Dey, the Linda May Han Oh Trio with Ambrose Akinmusire and Tyshawn Sorey, Marquis Hill, Braxton Cook, GENA, Olive Jones, Michael Mayo, Tia Fuller featuring Shamie Fuller Royston, Nduduzo Makhathini, the Sullivan Fortner Trio, Brandon Woody’s Upendo, Fonville x Fribush, Chicago Underground Duo and Concurrence.

2026 Newport Jazz Festival daily schedules will be released in July.

Get Tickets

General admission three-day weekend passes are $314.15, limited three-day student tickets are $189.52, single-day tickets are $117.42, and single-day student tickets are $63.86. Three-day parking is $90.64, and single-day parking is $33.99.