Ten bands, ten different styles, Grammy awards, special concepts and formats —
this is what the 14th edition of Jazz in the Park promises.
Jazz in the Park, one of Romania’s most beloved music festivals, will take place June 5–7, 2026, at the “Romulus Vuia” Ethnographic Park in Cluj-Napoca, and has announced its first confirmed artists.
The first major name confirmed for the 2026 edition is Lisa Simone, daughter of one of the most influential musicians of all time, Nina Simone. Lisa Simone is herself a musician, composer, film producer, and equality activist, with an Oscar nomination for a documentary about her mother and multiple Grammy nominations for her own compositions. Musically, Lisa Simone brings back the kind of jazz everyone recognizes — led by a powerful voice and music that naturally makes you want to move.
“We wanted a headliner who represents more than music — someone who carries strong values and has a story to tell. Looking at the news in 2025, we saw a worrying rise in cases of violence against women. At the same time, society clearly needs positive messages. We wanted someone with a strong voice and a meaningful message, and who could be more fitting than Lisa Simone — heir to the talent and spirit of her mother, one of the most important figures in American music history,”
said Alin Vaida, founder of Jazz in the Park.
The lineup is completed by remarkable names such as Marcos Valle, a pioneer of bossa nova and legendary Brazilian musician; Venna, British saxophonist and Grammy Award winner for his collaboration with Burna Boy, with over 1 million Spotify followers; Yilian Cañizares, Cuban-born violinist and vocalist; a Scandinavian supertrio featuring Bugge Wesseltoft, Arild Andersen, and Gard Nilssen, bringing together three generations of Nordic jazz; Kraak & Smaak, pioneers of jazz-electronic fusion; Rabih Abou-Khalil Quartet, a landmark name in Arabic jazz and world fusion; as well as emerging artists launched by the festival itself: JEMMA, winners of the Jazz in the Park Competition 2025, and MINDTHEGAP Trio, named Best Romanian Project at the same edition.
The artist residency program continues
Following last year’s experiment with JazzyBIT, Jazz in the Park continues its artist residency program, welcoming Nik Bärtsch, one of the most creative figures in European jazz. Throughout the festival, Nik Bärtsch will present three different concerts: a solo piano recital, a piano duo performance alongside Greek pianist Tania Giannouli, and a special concert with his band Ronin. He will also host a masterclass for musicians and take part in the festival’s public talk series, “Întâlniri pe prispă”.
“The music industry moves at a very fast pace, and artists often spend only a few hours in a city while touring. Our residency program allows both us and the audience to truly connect with the artists. We remove the rush, deepen the musical experience, and perhaps most importantly, get to know inspiring people with stories worth sharing,”
explained Denisa Dan, festival manager.
A daytime festival, new stages, and mornings that begin with music
Adopted last year, the daytime festival concept proposes a shift in how we experience festivals: enjoying music and free time during the day, without sacrificing nights.
Each festival day will begin with a DJ set, setting the tone for up to 10 live concerts per day, continuing until midnight. One of these early sets will be curated by Kraak & Smaak, whom the audience will later experience live in the evening.
“We were thrilled by how well this concept was received last year, especially by the number of people who joined us early in the day. Jazz in the Park is a festival you don’t leave exhausted — you leave enriched, after a full and rewarding weekend,”
added Denisa Dan.
The organizers also announced a conceptual and spatial redesign of the Backyard Stage, focusing on hybrid projects, contemporary creations, and more intimate performances.
“Not every project belongs on a big stage, and it would be a shame not to create a dedicated space for experimentation — especially at a jazz festival. We’re confident this stage can grow to rival the main one, and luckily, they won’t overlap,”
said Alin Vaida.
Tickets & passes — Jazz in the Park Festival 2026 | June 5–7
Festival passes are currently available at a discounted price of 319 RON, increasing to 389 RON starting February 10. Over 57% of passes have already been sold, with a total capacity limited to 5,000 passes.
Another price increase is scheduled for April, when passes will reach 449 RON, and day tickets will become available at 189 RON. Final prices will be 519 RON for passes and 229 RON for day tickets.
Installment payments are available at every price tier. More details at www.jazzinthepark.ro.
Children under 12 have free access when accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket or pass. Pets are welcome, as long as they are supervised.
About Jazz in the Park
Jazz in the Park is a manifest festival, combining great music with positive community values. The festival has hosted over 550 international jazz concerts and is now considered one of Europe’s most important jazz festivals.
In 2019, Jazz in the Park won the “Best Small European Festival” award at the European Festival Awards, becoming the first jazz festival in Europe to receive this distinction. It has also been shortlisted eight times among Europe’s Top 10 festivals in the same category, most recently for last year’s edition.
Jazz in the Park events are organized by Fapte, an association dedicated to developing people and communities through cultural events.
Upcoming events:
- Music Gallery 2026 | Edison – House of Music | TBA
- Jazz in the Park Festival 2026 | Romulus Vuia Ethnographic Park | June 5–7
- Jazz in the Park Competition 2026 | Central Park “Simion Bărnuțiu” | TBA
Main Partners: BRD – Groupe Societe Generale, Birra Moretti, Purcari
Partners: PPC, Wembley, Stalinskaya, Pepsi, Jameson, 8×8, TSV Line, Gerovital, Ilie Galben, Daisler Print House, MobilaDalin, Olivo Coffee Culture, Meze Audio, AV Store, Audio-Technica.
Institutional Partners: Primăria și Consiliul Local Cluj-Napoca, Consiliul Județean Cluj, Muzeul Etnografic al Transilvaniei, Europe Jazz Network, YOUROPE, AROC.
Creative Partener: Komiti
Media Partners: Rock FM, TVR Cultural, TVR Cluj, Radio România Cluj, Kolozsvari Radio, The Woman, Ziarul Metropolis, Ziua de Cluj, Cluj24, Cluj Live, Sunete, Zile și Nopți, Visit Cluj.
