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Glasgow Jazz Festival unveils programme for 40th edition

News imageGlasgow Jazz Festival Guitarist Pippa Blundell - holding an acoustic dress and wearing a black dress - and trumpeter Colin Steele - in a dark jacket and pale orange shirt - standing inside a brightly lit building with white walls. Glasgow Jazz Festival
Guitarist Pippa Blundell and trumpeter Colin Steele launched the festival

Glasgow Jazz Festival will celebrate its 40th edition this summer with a specially curated programme of 40 performances, festival organisers have announced.

More than 175 musicians will perform over five days in the city, at venues like the Old Fruitmarket and Oran Mor.

Performances by SAY Award winners Kai Ressu, guitarist Martin Taylor and saxophonist Courtney Pine will feature, while there will be tributes to Miles Davis and Amy Winehouse.

Festival director Jill Rodger said the event would bring together "global icons, leading Scottish artists and the next generation of jazz artists."

The festival was founded in 1987 and has attracted some of the greatest jazz names of all time, like Sarah Vaughan and Miles Davis, who performed in 1990 - the same year Glasgow was City of Culture.

Rodger said the festival has "always been about connection, discovery and the shared thrill of live music".

She added: "Forty years on, the festival continues to evolve, bringing together global icons, leading Scottish artists and the next generation of jazz artists.

"This year's programme reflects that journey: celebrating some of the music that we've shared for four decades, the moments that have defined the festival, and the future of Scottish jazz."

Among the shows lined up include a homegrown showcase featuring exciting new acts in Scottish jazz, including SAY Award Winners Kai Ressu, nu-jazz vocalist Gaïa, Glasgow artist Pippa Blundell and contemporary jazz group Sekoya.

Another concert - New Jazzwegians - will be part of the 2026 Commonwealth Games Festival, with the likes of jazz collective Azamiah, Ghanaian-born musician Nathan Somevi Trio and Japanese-Scottish producer, pianist and bandleader Sonedo performing.

Award-winning trumpeter and composer Colin Steele will honour Miles Davis' 100th birthday with a special show and vocalist Marianne McGregor takes on the songbook of Amy Winehouse.

Roan Anderson, the winner of BBC Radio Scotland's Young Jazz Musician 2025 will perform on the opening night with his band Tao and Mercury Music Prize shortlisted Fergus McCreadie will showcase his new piano-trio commission, Flight Pass.

Steele said: "It feels especially meaningful to be part of this year's event, having had the honour of playing one of my very first gigs at the inaugural festival all those years ago."

The festival will run from 10 -14 June this year and is backed by Creative Scotland.