Jazz afficionados will have much to celebrate this spring with a highly anticipated selection of jazz concerts slated for the Savannah Music Festival March 25-April 5, 2026. From 20-time-Grammy-winning jazz guitarist Pat Metheny, to young jazz artists Stefon Harris & Blackout, to a legendary tribute to Miles Davis, this year’s festival lineup delivers multiple subgenres of jazz for attendees to experience and enjoy. Tickets are on sale now at savannahmusicfestival.org. 

“The 2026 Savannah Music Festival jazz lineup reflects the full spectrum of what jazz means today, deeply rooted in tradition, boldly innovative, and profoundly global in spirit,” said Artistic Director Ryan McMaken. “Jazz has always been an important part of our Festival and this year, we’re bringing together legendary masters, visionary bandleaders, and rising stars who are redefining the art form in real time.”

Jazz performances in the 2026 lineup include:

• Stefon Harris & Blackout: Contemporary jazz (Mar. 25 at Kehoe Iron Works)
• NOON30: Alicia Olatuja & Christian Sands: Jazz with gospel/R&B influences (Mar. 26 at Kehoe Iron Works)
• Pat Metheny Side-Eye III+: Jazz guitar/modern jazz (Mar. 27 at Lucas Theatre for the Arts)
• Tord Gustavsen Trio: Lyrical jazz (Mar. 28 at Trinity United Methodist Church)
• John Scofield Trio: Jazz fusion/blues-influenced jazz (Mar. 29 at Kehoe Iron Works)
• Saha Gnawa: Jazz and North African ritual fusion (Apr. 3 at Ships of the Sea)
• Unlimited Miles Sextet: Miles Davis at 100: Tribute exploring jazz (Apr. 5 at Trustees Theater)

The appreciation for jazz doesn’t end on the stage. Savannah Music Festival is also investing in the future of jazz with its Jazz Academy. The SMF Jazz Academy is a free after-school jazz program that offers students the opportunity to learn how to play jazz on an instrument, receive weekly private instrument lessons, discover how to improv, participate in special masterclasses and more.

And just like the variety of artists performing at the festival this year, SMF announced a new education initiative for 2026-2027 that’s even more niche: the SMF Jazz Academy Big Band. 

“The launch of the SMF Jazz Academy Big Band marks an exciting new chapter in our commitment to arts education and community engagement, said Senior Director of Community Impact Jenny Woodruff. “This program gives students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich traditions and foundational language of big band jazz, learning not only the music, but the history, collaboration, and discipline that define the form.”

For more information on the SMF Jazz Academy Big Band or to purchase tickets to one of the jazz concerts, please visit www.savannahmusicfestival.org.