When is International Jazz Day?
International Jazz Day 2027 is on Friday
Friday, April 30, 2027
April 30 every year. That's in 207 days.
until International Jazz Day begins, in your time zone
International Jazz Day celebrates jazz and its power to bring people together across borders and cultures. UNESCO proclaimed it in 2011, and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz produces the yearly celebration with UNESCO.
About International Jazz Day
International Jazz Day honors jazz as an art form that grew out of African American communities in the United States and is now played all over the world. UNESCO presents the music as a tool for peace, dialogue and understanding between people, pointing to its roots in improvisation, collaboration and freedom of expression. Concerts, jam sessions, school programs, talks and broadcasts take place on the day, and organizers report participation in more than 190 countries.
UNESCO's General Conference proclaimed April 30 as International Jazz Day in November 2011, an idea inspired by the pianist and composer Herbie Hancock, who serves as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. In December 2012 the UN General Assembly formally welcomed the proclamation. The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, a nonprofit chaired by Hancock, plans and produces the celebration with UNESCO.
The first International Jazz Day, in 2012, combined a daylong program at UNESCO's headquarters in Paris, a sunrise concert in New Orleans' Congo Square and an evening concert in the UN General Assembly Hall in New York. Since then a different Global Host City has staged an All-Star Global Concert each year, while local events happen everywhere else. Chicago hosted the 15th-anniversary celebration in 2026.
Sources: UNESCO: International Jazz Day, International Jazz Day: About, UN press release: Panel discussion marks first International Jazz Day (2012). How we check dates.
How to mark International Jazz Day
- Catch a live jazz set at a local club, college or community concert.
- Listen to a landmark album from start to finish, such as Miles Davis's Kind of Blue or John Coltrane's A Love Supreme.
- Learn about a jazz musician from your own city or country and share one of their recordings.
- Watch the All-Star Global Concert if a broadcast or stream is available where you live.
- If you play an instrument, join a jam session or learn a simple 12-bar blues.
International Jazz Day dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Wednesday, April 30, 2025 |
| 2026 | Thursday, April 30, 2026 |
| 2027 | Friday, April 30, 2027 |
| 2028 | Sunday, April 30, 2028 |
| 2029 | Monday, April 30, 2029 |
| 2030 | Tuesday, April 30, 2030 |
| 2031 | Wednesday, April 30, 2031 |
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Frequently asked questions
When is International Jazz Day 2027?
International Jazz Day 2027 is on Friday, April 30, 2027. It falls on April 30 every year. In 2028, it is on Sunday, April 30, 2028.
Who created International Jazz Day?
UNESCO's General Conference proclaimed it in November 2011, inspired by Herbie Hancock, a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz produces it with UNESCO.
Where is the International Jazz Day concert held?
A different Global Host City stages the All-Star Global Concert each year. Chicago hosted in 2026, and events also take place in many other countries on the same day.
Is International Jazz Day a public holiday?
No. International Jazz Day is an observance, not a public holiday, so schools, banks, government offices and most businesses keep their normal hours.