JazzAscona 2026 is back to heat up the summer on Lake Maggiore

A free and city-wide festival: over 200 free concerts, from morning to night 

This is the unmistakable atmosphere of JazzAscona, which from June 25 to July 4, 2026, celebrates its 42nd edition with ten days of festivities, gatherings, and live music without boundaries, transforming the lakefront and the historic center into a vast open-air stage.

Music will entertain the public daily from late morning until 3 a.m., with over 200 concerts, around 50 bands, and more than 300 musicians from around the world. There are four official stages overlooking the lake, but the festival takes place in all kinds of venues like bars, restaurants, and the most picturesque corners of the historic center, in a continuous interplay of music, scenery, and conviviality. 

As in previous years, all concerts can be visited for free, an important element of JazzAscona’s identity that makes music accessible and invites the public to experience the festival with freedom and curiosity.

The roots of jazz and the bond with New Orleans, the festival’s beating heart 

Under the artistic direction of Nolan Quinn, the 2026 edition marks an even more decisive return to the roots of jazz, a choice that responds to the public’s desire and reaffirms the festival’s historic spirit. Traditional jazz, rhythm & blues, funk, blues, and related genres remain central to a cohesive yet open program capable of appealing to diverse audiences. New Orleans remains the beating heart of JazzAscona, not only for the music but for the spirit that permeates the streets: an atmosphere made unique by the constant presence of numerous musicians from the Crescent city and a collective energy reminiscent of the French Quarter. It is no coincidence that Ascona has been officially twinned with New Orleans (Sister Cities) since 2022: a cultural and human bond that JazzAscona renews year after year, building a vibrant and authentic musical bridge across the Atlantic.

The 2026 lineup, dedicated to New Orleans and curated by Adonis Rose, joins young talents and leading figures from the scene. Among the most original voices of the new generation, Sabine McCalla stands out—a singer-songwriter with a refined style, capable of weaving together Haitian tradition, folk, and American song with a personal, narrative flair. Also returning to Ascona is Sean Ardoin, a zydeco star, multiple Grammy nominee, and central figure in contemporary Creole music, who brings an overwhelming energy to the stage, deeply rooted in Louisiana culture. Also highly anticipated are the Adonis Rose ensemble with crooner Phillip Manuel (2–4) and the band NOJO 5 with Glen David Andrews, an incomparable trombonist, showman, and ambassador of New Orleans jazz. A new generation of musicians is represented by the Louisiana State University Brass Band and the New Orleans Jazz Institute Youth Band. They will be in residence for the entire ten days of the festival, as will nearly all the musicians from New Orleans.

From international stars to rising talents: the major concerts of JazzAscona 2026 

Alongside the New Orleans lineup, JazzAscona 2026 offers a series of special concerts that punctuate the daily schedule, bringing some of the most charismatic figures from the international jazz, funk, and soul scene to the lakefront.  The festival kicks off on Thursday, June 26, and Friday, June 27, with Radius, winners of the Audience Award, known for their energetic and contemporary funk. The first weekend features Torsten Goods (June 27–28), a jazz guitarist, singer, and composer often called the “German George Benson” known for his elegant style and groove, and Mitch Woods & His Rocket 88’s (June 29–30), two of the festival’s most electrifying shows. Another must-see name: on July 1, an absolute funk legend takes the stage — Fred Wesley, James Brown’s legendary trombonist and musical director, with the Generations project. Closing out the lineup of major concerts is Vincen García (July 3–4), one of the most innovative bassists in European jazz funk, already a headliner on major international stages.

As is tradition, JazzAscona also dedicates space to a selection of particularly refined and sophisticated jazz projects, designed for attentive listening and to showcase great soloists of the contemporary scene. The stars of these performances are Bert Joris (June 28–29), a lyrical and sophisticated Belgian trumpeter; Anthony Hervey (June 29–July 2), an American trumpet talent trained in the school of Wynton Marsalis; and Antonio Faraò, a pianist of international stature, in a one-night-only concert on June 28.

Tradition, swing and new generations: a living legacy looking to the future

As previously mentioned, the roots of jazz will make a strong comeback at the heart of JazzAscona this year, thanks to some of the most representative bands on the international traditional jazz scene. These stars are Ali Affleck and The Traveling Janes (June 27–July 4), five musicians who bring the jazz and blues of the early 20th century back to life with energy, wit, and great stylistic rigor. The Big Five will make a highly anticipated return with singer Nicolle Rochelle (June 26–27) to deliver an explosive show blending swing, dance, and theatricality, while Frog & Henry (June 25–July 4), a constant and beloved presence with the audience, will help create that authentic and convivial atmosphere that has always defined the festival. The journey through classic jazz continues with the JazzAscona premiere of the Nanna Carling Swingband (July 2–4), a young and brilliant performer of the most infectious swing and vaudeville music, and with the Syncopation Society Orchestra (July 3–4), an ensemble that evokes the sound of the great big bands of the 1930s and 1940s. 

Among the most anticipated events is also the gospel concert on June 29 featuring Emma Nissen, a young artist who has won over international audiences with her original Jesus and Jazz, blending spirituality, soul, and improvisation.

Finally, in addition to the jazz dance classes that will feature daily in the early evening as part of the lakeside program, the presence of Swiss bands is also worth mentioning. Alongside several local groups, we highlight in particular the return of the popular Swiss Armed Forces Big Band (with two concerts on the final weekend, on July 3 and 4), and pianist and composer Manon Mullener (July 2–4), whose album STORIES was enthusiastically received for its infectious energy and original fusion of modern jazz and Afro-Cuban rhythms. Her artistic success has opened the doors to major European festivals and is being crowned this year with the Swiss Jazz Award 2026, a prestigious honor that will be presented to her in Ascona.

JazzAscona 2026 is thus much more than just a festival: it is an immersive experience, an encounter with the musical magic of New Orleans, and a meeting spot for generations, cultures, and musical styles, where tradition is never mere nostalgia but a living force, ready to be renewed night after night on the shores of Lake Maggiore.