The Festival International de Jazz de Montreal has announced the first wave for its 46th edition, a program that balances tributes to Miles Davis and Tony Bennett with a broad slate of jazz, blues and boundary-pushing projects. Tickets go on sale Friday, October 24 at 10 a.m., with a presale for newsletter subscribers on Thursday, October 23 at 10 a.m.
Centennial tributes bookend the run. We Want Miles: A Miles Davis Centennial Celebration opens June 25 at Maison symphonique, led by Marcus Miller with Mike Stern, Bill Evans and Mino Cinelu. On July 3 at Théâtre Maisonneuve, guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli presents Sings Bennett, marking Tony Bennett’s 100th.
Headliners include Melody Gardot, who marks 20 years on stage with a July 1 show at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier. Pink Martini returns to the same room on July 3 with its blend of jazz and vintage pop. At Théâtre Maisonneuve, Cécile McLorin Salvant appears June 26, followed by Montreal’s Dominique Fils-Aimé on June 27, Hiromi’s Sonicwonder on June 28, Joshua Redman on June 29 with material from his 2025 release, and Stacey Kent on June 30.
Elsewhere at Maison symphonique, Quebec composer Flore Laurentienne performs June 26. Blues icon Taj Mahal with the Phantom Blues Band arrives July 2. Polish pianist Hania Rani brings Non Fiction: Piano Concerto in Four Movements on July 4.
The club and late-night programming widens the lens. The Bad Plus plays Théâtre Jean-Duceppe on June 26, and trumpeter Chief Adjuah appears July 1. At Club Soda on June 26, Adrian Quesada’s Trio Asesino offers a set from the Black Pumas co-founder. Le Gesù hosts Viviane Audet on June 25 with music from Le piano et le torrent, and later that night pianist Sullivan Fortner plays solo. Montreal trumpeter Ron Di Lauro closes July 3 at Le Gesù with Kind of Blue: Tribute to Miles Davis.
With major indoor stages at Place des Arts and free outdoor programming around the Quartier des spectacles to be announced, this first reveal points to a 2026 edition that honours jazz history, highlights Montreal voices, and leaves room for discovery when the full lineup lands next spring.
