The Monterey Jazz Festival returns September 25-27, 2026 to Monterey, California, featuring an exceptional lineup of jazz legends and contemporary stars. Headliners include piano virtuoso Herbie Hancock, vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant, trumpeter Wynton Marsalis with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and saxophonist Ravi Coltrane, alongside blues powerhouses Christone Kingfish Ingram and Shemekia Copeland. The festival showcases 66 artists across jazz, blues, rock, R&B, and soul blues genres, with notable performances by bassist Ron Carter, saxophonist Charles Lloyd, and Latin jazz pioneer Eddie Palmieri. Additional acts include comedian-musician Reggie Watts, bassist Meshell Ndegeocello, and emerging talent through the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra and Next Generation Women in Jazz Combo.

Monterey Jazz Festival is a three-day standalone music festival.