The 37th Tallinn International Festival Jazzkaar will bring the best music and uplifting energy to Telliskivi Creative City and stages across Estonia from 25 April to 2 May. The first artists have now been announced: among them, guitar virtuoso Bill Frisell performing with violist Eyvind Kang, leading U.S. ensembles Kneebody and Kennedy Administration, and, at the opening concert, the international large-scale work Lady Sapiens by Mingo Rajandi.
“Jazzkaar 2026 will once again bring together artists who blend diverse musical cultures into something entirely new,” says artistic director Anne Erm. “It’s a true joy to open the festival in Tallinn, a UNESCO City of Music with Mingo Rajandi’s ambitious international project, and to welcome back Bill Frisell’s deeply moving music after 12 years.”
On 25 April, Jazzkaar 2026 will open at Von Krahl Theatre with Lady Sapiens, a work by composer and double bassist Mingo Rajandi – music that brings the women of the Stone Age into the present day, blending powerful rhythms, resonant bass textures, and an intimate chamber sound. The performance features a rare ensemble of three double basses and a serpent, with musicians from Estonia, Sweden, Austria, and Belgium. Lady Sapiens is a co-production between Jazzkaar, the Belgian concert organiser HA Concerts, and the UK festival hcmf. The world premiere will take place in Ghent on 15 November, followed by a performance in Huddersfield on 23 November this year. The new work has been created with the support of Tallinn, a UNESCO City of Music.
On 26 April, U.S. guitar legend Bill Frisell will perform at Jazzkaar, marking his highly anticipated return to Tallinn after his sold-out concert at Autumn Jazz 2014. A Grammy winner and renowned Blue Note Records artist, Frisell has profoundly influenced the sound of contemporary jazz. Together with violist Eyvind Kang, he will craft an intimate, improvisation-driven musical dialogue that intertwines the soundscapes of jazz, folk, and ambient music.
On 28 April, the Jazzkaar stage will feature two outstanding U.S. ensembles. Kneebody, led by charismatic saxophonist Ben Wendel, will captivate audiences with its energetic, genre-defying sound that seamlessly fuses jazz, rock, and improvisation. In contrast, Kennedy Administration will light up the stage with an irresistible performance that flows between soul, funk, and jazz, powered by vocalist Kennedy’s commanding presence and the band’s radiant energy. The Kennedy Administration concert will be presented with the support of Seesam Insurance.
The Jazzkaar 2026 festival design radiates the same vibrant energy as jazz itself! The striking pink-and-blue visual identity was created by designer Erik Teemägi / PUTKA.
The 37th Tallinn International Festival Jazzkaar 2026 will take place from 25 April to 2 May at Telliskivi Creative City in Tallinn and will also extend to stages across Estonia. The festival’s headliner and full programme will be announced by early February.
Tickets go on sale on 31 October at 9:00 AM via one of Estonia’s leading ticket platforms Piletikeskus. A limited number of early-bird tickets will be available at a 40% discount for the fastest jazz fans, and all tickets will remain at reduced prices until 4 January! Music lovers aged 7–20 can enjoy 50% off tickets to all Jazzkaar concerts.
Artist photos are available HERE.
The main sponsors of the Jazzkaar Festival are JURA, Jazz Pesulad, and Eesti Päevaleht. Annual partners include United Motors, Tallink, and Nordic Hotel Forum. The festival hub is brought to life with the support of Telliskivi Creative City and Fotografiska Tallinn. Jazzkaar is also supported by Seesam Insurance, Viru Keskus, Reval Café, Aktaprint, the Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Tallinn, a UNESCO City of Music, and the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency (EIS).