The Los Angeles Philharmonic and The City of Angels’ Blue Note location have come together to announce the return of the Blue Note Jazz Festival. The event will once again be held at the Hollywood Bowl and offers two days of live entertainment on Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June 14. Comedian and actor Arsenio Hall hosts this year’s gathering, which features an unmatched roster of musical participants.
Taking the top slots for the 2026 gathering is the revolutionary “Godmother of Soul,” known for her staggering seven-decade stint in the spotlight, Patti LaBelle. Also leading the event’s billing is a founding member of the Fugees and an influential force in hip-hop, Wyclef Jean, and the two-time Grammy Award-winning jazz vocalist, Gregory Porter.
Beyond the event’s top three acts, the lineup also features artists such as Samara Joy, Yussef Dayes, and Cimafunk, as well as specialty performances including Robert Glasper presents R+R=NOW featuring Terrace Martin, Chief Adjuah, Derrick Hodge, Justin Tyson, and Taylor McFerrin. On Glasper’s Blue Note profile, the experience is described by the musician, “R+R stands for ‘Reflect’ and ‘Respond.’”
The idea sparked from Nina Simone while Glasper co-produced Nina Revisited, a companion recording to the 2015 film What Happened, Miss Simone? Glasper adds, “When you reflect what’s going on in your time and respond to that, you can’t not be relevant. So ‘R’ plus ‘R’ equals ‘NOW.’”
Ultimately, Kokoroko, Elena Pinderhughes, Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance Ensemble at UCLA, LAUSD Beyond the Bell All-City Jazz Big Band, and LA County High School for the Arts Band fill out the 2026 lineup.
Festival tickets are on sale now and available here.
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