Press Release

EFG London Jazz Festival Announces First Names For 2026

Including Samara Joy, Morcheeba, Fatoumata Diawara, Ben Folds and more

By Becca Ingram · March 25, 2026

Now entering its 34th year, the global celebration of music EFG London Jazz Festival returns from 13–22 November, bringing ten days of headline concerts, intimate club dates, bold new commissions and community events across venues big and small in the capital. The first wave of announcements introduces a mix of groundbreaking songwriters, adventurous ensembles and cross-genre collaborators led by artists as diverse as Samara Joy, Fatoumata Diawara, Ben Folds, and Morcheeba, alongside major projects such as marking the centenaries of Miles Davis and John Coltrane and orchestral collaborations that expand the sound of jazz.

Jazz is an open conversation, and the EFG London Jazz Festival has always been a place where that conversation extends across cultures, generations and styles, layer upon layer, creating memorable moments from large-scale commissions to intimate, revelatory club shows. These first names set the tone for a festival that values surprise, story and musical explorations. None of this would be possible without the support of title sponsor EFG Private Bank, which helps to facilitate the broad mix of shows that the Festival is known for.

The EFG London Jazz Festival will open at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall with Jazz Voice, the glittering opening gala for which the full roster of vocalists will be announced in due course. The mix of singers performing alongside Guy Barker’s EFG London Jazz Festival Orchestra always offers surprises and, much like the festival as a whole, is curated from a diverse range of performers to create unique live moments.

Malian singer-songwriter Fatoumata Diawara brings her luminous storytelling and driving West African grooves to the Roundhouse (Wed 18 Nov), while Grammy-winning jazz singer Samara Joy returns to the festival, following her sold out headline appearance in 2023 and her Jazz Social conversation and stripped back performance in 2024, to close proceedings at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall (Sun 22 Nov). American pianist and songwriter Ben Folds fills the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall (Fri 20 Nov) with the wry, cinematic piano-pop that has made him a rare crossover figure between songwriting and jazz-inflected concert performance, as trip-hop pioneers Morcheeba will delight with a widescreen set at the Troxy (Fri 13 Nov).

2026 marks the centenary of two of jazz’s biggest and most enduring figures, Miles Davis and John Coltrane. To celebrate this, the festival will present large-scale projects and ambitious collaborations including a major tribute at the Barbican with Coltrane 100: Both Directions at Once (Fri 13 Nov), assembling a searing cast of musicians including Joe Lovano, Melissa Aldana, Nduduzo Makhathini, Linda May Han Oh and Jeff “Tain” Watts, for an evening devoted to Coltrane’s spirit of inquiry. On the same evening (Fri 13 Nov) at the EartH Theatre in Hackney, Emma-Jean Thackray presents an event titled Dear Miles - A Love Letter in which she takes inspiration from Miles Davis’s electric era, pushing further into electronic territory, with beat-driven re-imaginings that blur the lines between jazz improvisation and dance music culture. On the second weekend (Sat 21 Nov), two greats and festival favourites join forces to celebrate Coltrane’s legacy; saxophonist Branford Marsalis and vocalist Dianne Reeves will take to the newest venue in Olympia, the British Airways Arc, for a very special performance.

Three-time Grammy-award winning singer Cécile McLorin Salvant, whose latest album Oh! Snap is nominated for a Jazz FM award, is one of the most creative and impressive performers of her generation. In association with the BBC Concert Orchestra at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, she will reimagine an intimate vocal jazz evening on an orchestral scale (Sun 22 Nov). The world renowned Kronos Quartet are performing their tribute to the late great gospel singer Mahalia Jackson for an intimate appearance at the Queen Elizabeth Hall (Fri 20 Nov) in support of their album Glorious Mahalia which arrives next month and underlines the festival’s appetite for adventurous repertoire that crosses into contemporary classical and experimental worlds.

Interwoven with those statement shows are performances that favour the intimacy of voice and lyricism. Lizz Wright sings at Cadogan Hall (Sun 15 Nov) with the gospel-tinged warmth that has become her signature, accompanied by collaborator Kenny Banks Sr. Elsewhere the festival points to adventurous sounds: Tunisian oud master Anouar Brahem performs his latest ECM release After the Last Sky at the Barbican alongside Anja Lechner on violoncello, Django Bates on piano and Mats Eilertsen on double bass, for a set where Arab classical motifs meet improvisation. Cuban musicians Alfredo Rodríguez and Pedrito Martínez bring a night of virtuosic rhythm and electrifying musicianship to KOKO to close the festival’s opening weekend (Sun 15 Nov). Rodríguez’s dazzling piano playing and Martínez’s explosive percussion have made them two of the most compelling ambassadors of contemporary Cuban music, blending jazz improvisation with Afro-Cuban tradition in performances that promise both technical brilliance and irresistible groove. The following two nights see GoGo Penguin return to the venue (Mon 16 + Tue 17 Nov), bringing their propulsive, electro-inflected sound to Camden. Famed for their kinetic live shows, the Manchester trio fuse jazz instrumentation with the pulse of electronic music and minimalist composition, creating immersive performances that have earned them a devoted international audience. London four-piece PREP bring their sleek, sun-soaked blend of jazz-inflected pop to KOKO (Wed 18 Nov), offering a rare chance to step inside their warm, immaculate sonic world.

Sam Gendel and Sam Wilkes (Tue 17 Nov) come together for a special performance at Union Chapel. Gendel, a highly sought-after producer, composer and collaborator, has become one of the most intriguing figures in contemporary jazz and experimental music, known for his enigmatic stage presence and distinctive sonic world. Live appearances from the LA-based artist are rare, making this collaboration with bassist and longtime creative partner Wilkes an especially anticipated moment in the festival programme. Mercury Prize-shortlisted Scottish pianist Fergus McCreadie presents a brand new work at Kings Place (Fri 13 Nov) written for classical piano trio for the first time, a co-commission by the venue and Chamber Music Scotland, where he is Artist in Residence.

EFG London Jazz Festival Director Pelin Opcin said of the 2026 edition: “The EFG London Jazz Festival 2026 promises another vibrant celebration of creativity, bringing together outstanding artists from the UK and across the globe this November. We’re delighted to unveil the first names in this year’s programme, welcoming internationally renowned performers to the line-up - including Samara Joy, Fatoumata Diawara, and Anouar Brahem - with more major stars set to be announced later in the year. This year’s Festival will place large-scale shows and ambitious orchestral projects at its core, alongside our continued commitment to create unique, once-in-a-lifetime moments - from brand new commissions to exciting collaborations that reflect the ever-evolving spirit of jazz. We are grateful to our title sponsor, EFG Private Bank, whose ongoing partnership helps us champion artistic innovation and diversity. We look forward to welcoming audiences this November to share in the energy, discovery and joy that live music brings.”

Serious would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to all of their partners, particularly the extended support of title sponsor EFG, which helps to support the breadth and diversity of the Festival. Keep an eye out for the EFG Elements Series; this series of shows are an integral part of the Festival programme and will be announced in the coming months.

Again for 2026, Turkish Airlines will present the Global Connections series. With the shows to be announced soon, the series will spotlight artists from around the world, embodying the same spirit of connection that defines Turkish Airlines’ global network. Serious would like to extend their thanks to Turkish Airlines for their continued support of this important strand of the Festival, which highlights the global perspective and diversity of the programme.

The EFG London Jazz Festival is made possible thanks to the support of many key sponsors and funders, including Arts Council England, Serious Trust, BBC Radio 3, Champagne Thienot, Jazzwise Magazine and Jazz FM UK.

EFG London Jazz Festival 2026

Fri 13 Nov

Jazz Voice - Royal Festival Hall
Coltrane 100: Joe Lovano, Melissa Aldana, Nduduzo Makhathini, Linda May Han Oh, Jeff “Tain” Watts - Both Directions at Once - Barbican
Morcheeba - Troxy

Emma-Jean Thackray presents Dear Miles - A Love Letter - EartH Theatre

Fergus McCreadie - Kings Place

Sun 15 Nov

Anouar Brahem - Barbican
Lizz Wright with Kenny Banks Sr. - Cadogan Hall
Alfredo Rodriguez and Pedrito Martinez - KOKO
The Meltdown - Jazz Cafe

Mon 16 Nov

GoGo Penguin - KOKO

Tue 17 Nov

GoGo Penguin - KOKO
Sam Gendel & Sam Wilkes - Union Chapel

Wed 18 Nov

Fatoumata Diawara - Roundhouse
PREP - KOKO
Rymden - Jazz Cafe

Fri 20 Nov

Ben Folds - Royal Festival Hall
Kronos Quartet - Queen Elizabeth Hall