Jazz legends and cross-genre collaborations headline in Miami
At a time when so much of what we call “festival culture” feels recycled or predictable, Montreux Jazz Festival Miami 2026 has carved out something rare: a space where heritage, improvisation, and sheer delight intersect under the open sky. As Ornette Coleman once said, “Jazz is the only music in which the same note can be played night after night but differently each time.” That philosophy echoed throughout the weeklong celebration, from the sands of Miami Beach to the waterfront stages of Coconut Grove.
The legendary Montreux Jazz Festival began in 1967 in the lakeside town of Montreux, Switzerland, founded by Claude Nobs along with collaborators Géo Voumard and René Langel. What started as a three-day jazz event at the Montreux Casino quickly evolved into one of the world’s most respected music festivals. Originally focused strictly on jazz, it gradually expanded to include soul, blues, rock, and later hip-hop and electronic music, hosting legendary artists such as Miles Davis, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones, David Bowie, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, and Carlos Santana. More than five decades later, Montreux expanded internationally, and Miami became one of its newest homes when Montreux Jazz Festival Miami launched in 2024.
Bringing Montreux to Miami was the vision of co-founder Jeremy Arditi, whose passion for music found a kindred spirit in Jon Batiste, the festival’s headliner and creative curator. Together they acted like conductors of a grand symphony, weaving the city’s rhythms, Montreux’s legacy, and the voices of artists from around the world into a shared musical experience — turning stages into living instruments of connection and collaboration. Arditi described the project as a long-held ambition: to do for music in Miami what Basel has done for art. Their dedication helped bring the international event to South Florida, creating a space where artists and audiences meet and music resonates throughout the venue.
Running from February 25 through March 1, the 2026 edition expanded to Miami Beach, debuting at the historic Miami Beach Bandshell, a landmark open-air amphitheatre in North Beach known for its mid-century design and decades of live performances. Weekend programming then moved to Coconut Grove, bringing Montreux’s spirit to the waterfront setting of The Hangar at Regatta Harbour, where jam sessions stretched long into the night and unexpected musical pairings became part of the experience.
On Wednesday, the celebration opened with a sold-out Miles Davis Centennial Celebration at the Bandshell. The evening brought together the Miles Electric Band (M.E.B.), led by Davis’ nephew Vince Wilburn Jr., alongside the Kind of Blue Acoustic Band under the direction of drummer Lenny White. Throughout the night, a remarkable circle of artists stepped into the music, each adding their voice to Davis’s enduring legacy: JoJo, Lalah Hathaway, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Maurice “Mobetta” Brown, Sammy Figueroa, and Ibrahim Maalouf. Rather than simply revisiting the past, the performances carried Davis’s spirit forward — restless, exploratory, and alive. In recognition of the cultural impact of the event, the Mayor and Commissioners of the City of Miami Beach presented an official proclamation declaring 25 February 2026 as “Montreux Jazz Festival Miami Day.”
On Thursday evening, at the Miami Beach Bandshell, drummer and composer Makaya McCraven took the stage with his ensemble for a performance that stretched the language of jazz in unexpected directions. Blending intricate rhythms with contemporary textures, McCraven’s set unfolded like a living conversation between musicians, drawing the audience into its shifting patterns and hypnotic momentum.
Friday, the action moved to the festival’s soulful heart: The Hangar at Regatta Harbour. The compact waterfront venue took on the feeling of a bustling enclave, with people gathering between performances and the anticipation of each new set rippling through the crowd. Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, joined by longtime friend and New Orleans musical ambassador Jon Batiste, traversed the stage with ease, trading horns and drums and even launching into a thrilling drum-off. Fellow Big Easy natives PJ Morton, Tank and the Bangas, and rising rapper La Reezy joined the celebration, imprinting the performance with their distinctive rhythms and expressive artistry. In a spontaneous moment, the musicians stepped off the stage while still performing, leading the crowd in a living second-line procession — a New Orleans-style parade of music and movement that wound through the Hangar grounds, a spectacle that attendees will never forget. Later, Batiste returned for the Legendary Jam, where dozens of musicians packed the stage and played deep into the night.
Saturday brought a fresh cadence to The Hangar. Nile Rodgers & CHIC had the audience moving from the first beat, delivering a funk-disco celebration that spanned generations. Rodgers shared playful stories behind classics like “Le Freak” and “Good Times,” along with hits he wrote for Madonna and countless other artists, each song a reminder of his enduring influence. Fans, longtime devotees and newcomers alike, were carried along by the irresistible grooves. TOTO held the audience in the palm of their hands with a high-octane set of iconic rock hits, hard-driving prog, searing solos, and anthemic sing-alongs. From the beloved “Africa” to “Rosanna” and other Toto IV classics, the crowd cheered every song, honoring a band whose music has transcended decades and continents. Opening the evening, Adi Oasis, the French‑Caribbean singer‑bassist known for her soulful vocals and dynamic live performances, delivered a sleek fusion of funk and soul.
Sunday erupted in a celebration of music from across the globe. Bomba Estéreo, masters of Colombian cumbia, reggae, and electronica, made a colorful entrance, their three giant red mushroom centrepieces turning the stage into a fairytale scene. Fans were on their feet, cheering and dancing from the first moment, swept up in the infectious music. Elena Rose followed with Latin-pop that threaded playful rhythms with Miami-inspired flair, her beautiful voice full of warmth and personality. Meanwhile, Pedrito Martínez drove the evening forward with Afro-Cuban drumming so intense it felt like it wrapped the crowd in its pulse, leaving everyone absorbed and spellbound.
Apart from the marquee names and standout performances, this year’s edition was defined by the moments between moments: late-night jams where musicians drifted in and out like migrating birds, conversations about music flowing through the crowd, and the shared sense that everyone had gathered for the same simple reason. For those in attendance, the festival felt less like a conventional event and more like a reunion of people united by a shared love of music.
The festival continues to grow while honouring the spirit that made Montreux legendary — the belief that, at its best, music brings people together. Organisers have already confirmed that it will return in 2027, with further details to be announced in due course.
For more information and updates on the Montreux Jazz Festival Miami, visit montreuxmiami.com or follow them on Instagram @montreuxmiami