Story thread · 2 reports / 2 sources

DC JazzFest returns with shows across the city

nbcwashington.com · 12dShare

From Duke Ellington to Shirley Horn, Washington, D.C., has launched some of the biggest names in jazz. This week, the genre will take over the city for the annual DC Jazz Festival. The festival kicked off on Wednesday and runs through Labor Day weekend. This year’s lineup features an array of artists, from Grammy winners to emerging stars. JazzFest is not only for Jazz experts. “Eighty percent of folks that come to JazzFest are discovering. It’s so fantastic, we had over 100,000 people last year, because people just ascend on to not only The Wharf, which is the last two days, but citywide, Sept. 2 through the 6th,” Sunny Sumter, president and CEO of the DC Jazz Festival, told News4. From Wednesday to Friday, venues around the city host multiple JazzFest events. On Saturday and Sunday, the festival takes over The Wharf. Fans also have the opportunity to hear directly from their favorite artists during the Meet the Artist programs at Arena Stage throughout Labor Day weekend. The event in

First report: 2026 DC JazzFest Celebrates the ‘Future of Jazz,’ Highlights Local and Global Talent — washingtoninformer.com, 14d