The Brick Lane Jazz Festival has announced the first wave of artists for its fifth-anniversary edition, which will take place from April 24th to 25th, 2026. Having grown from its modest debut in 2022 to a 12-stage extravaganza, the festival has quickly established itself as a cornerstone of East London’s musical landscape. In 2024, it was even named the #1 Best London Festival by The London Standard.
The festival has earned a reputation for spotlighting local artists and emerging trailblazers from the city’s thriving underground scenes, all while honouring the jazz legends that came before them. The 2026 edition continues this tradition, bringing together a borderless and genre-defying range of artists to play against the backdrop of some of the capital’s most renowned cultural hotspots. All the venues are within a short walk of the central hub at the iconic Truman Brewery.
Reflecting on this fifth birthday edition, the festival’s Founder, Juliet Kennedy, says,
“From day one, Brick Lane Jazz Festival has been about shining a light on the incredible talent in London’s jazz scene. Five years on, Brick Lane Jazz Festival has grown into a landmark celebration of the UK’s underground music community. It’s been incredible to see the festival become a space where artists and audiences connect so powerfully – and this is only the beginning. Our ambition is to keep pushing boundaries and championing the next wave of talent for many years to come. We’re only just getting started!”
This year’s lineup features a diverse and eclectic array of artists, including the festival’s first headliner, jazz-funk legend and Gil Scott-Heron collaborator Brian Jackson. The announcement also brings together artists like Australian beat-master Alexander Flood, Knats, spiritual jazz collective Levitation Orchestra, Tenderlonious-led jazz outfit Ruby Rushton, and Ghanaian multi-instrumentalist Kwame Yeboah. The festival’s year-round series, BLJF Presents, is also expanding with more regional stops and international shows planned for the coming year.
The Brick Lane Jazz Festival will kick off with a launch party at Mad Cats tonight from 6pm. For the first time, the venue will be one of the festival’s stages alongside others like Village Underground and Rough Trade East. The free event will feature DJ sets from Juju K, Don Glori, Finn Rees, and Mad Cats’ house DJs.
The launch party is free to attend and will see DJ sets from Juju K (Juliet Kennedy), Don Glori, Finn Rees, and Mad Cats’ house DJs.
