Bergamo Jazz Festival 2026: a march not to be missed between Miles, Coltrane and a lot of surprises

There is a city in Italy that every March transforms into one of the world capitals of jazz. It is not Milan, it is not Rome, but Bergamo. And this year, in its 47th edition, the Bergamo Jazz Festival promises to be something special. From March 19 to 22, 2026, under the beautiful title “Setting The Pace”, the festival celebrates the centenary of the birth of two absolute giants: Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Two names that need no introduction, two artists who literally set the pace for decades, and not only in jazz. Bringing this tribute to Bergamo, with Joe Lovano serving as artistic director for the third consecutive year, is already a guarantee in itself.

The heart of the festival: Teatro Donizetti

Friday, March 20 begins with the duo Dave Holland and Lionel Loueke, double bass and guitar in a refined dialogue that comes from their album United. Next, there is great anticipation for the return, after twenty years, of Steve Coleman with his Five Elements: if you have never seen them live, get ready for something that feels more like a ritual than a concert. Saturday the 21st is a dream night for fans of improvisation. The Bad Plus, in a special lineup with Chris Potter and Craig Taborn, reinterpret the compositions Keith Jarrett wrote for the American Quartet, and then there is Lakecia Benjamin, five-time Grammy nominee, presenting her new album. A sold-out evening. The highlight arrives on Sunday the 22nd, when Joe Lovano takes the stage, tenor sax in hand, with a dream band created specifically for the tribute to Davis and Coltrane. The lineup is breathtaking: Avishai Cohen on trumpet, Shabaka Hutchings on flutes, Jakob Bro on guitar, Joey Baron on drums and many others. It is the kind of event you will be telling your friends about for years.

Città Alta and the magic of unusual spaces

The beauty of Bergamo Jazz is that it does not end with the main theaters. The Teatro Sociale in Città Alta hosts on Thursday the 19th the trio of Franco D’Andrea and the quartet of Chilean saxophonist Melissa Aldana, two completely different ways of understanding jazz, one at the twilight of a legendary career, the other in full creative bloom. On Sunday it is Simona Molinari’s turn with “La Donna è Mobile”, a theatrical and musical performance about the female figure with an all-female band. The presence of women musicians runs throughout the entire program with great coherence.

Jazz everywhere, even where you do not expect it

The Aula Picta of the Palazzo Vescovile (a brand-new venue worth noting) hosts solo recitals by pianists Wayne Horvitz and Leo Genovese. At the Accademia Carrara, violinist Anaïs Drago performs among works of art. Sala Piatti welcomes the intimate duo between the voice of Norma Winstone and the piano of Kit Downes. And also the Auditorium Istituto Palazzolo with the Jazz Passengers and Norwegian guitarist Hedwig Mollestad. For those with a tighter budget, or simply those who love discovering new talents, there is “Scintille di Jazz”, the section curated by Tino Tracanna with free concerts in venues across the city. Free entry, vibes guaranteed.

When jazz meets the other arts

The festival is not limited to music. In these very days, at the closing of the Bergamo Film Meeting, violinist Virginia Sutera accompanies live the 1918 silent film Gräfin Küchenfee: one of those events that happen only once in a while and that are truly worth experiencing. From March 18 to 22 the exhibition “Avanzi di Balera” will be open to visitors, dedicated to the Bergamo painter and musician Gianni Bergamelli, who recently passed away. A heartfelt tribute that adds a more intimate and local dimension to the entire event. And for those who think jazz is only for adults, there is also a wonderful initiative in schools: “Incontriamo il Jazz” brings lecture-concerts to the Teatro Sociale on March 16 and 17, introducing students to improvisation and the history of this music. During the weekend of March 21 and 22, the historical-musical walks of the “Itinerario dell’acqua” bring jazz through the alleys of Città Alta, in collaboration with Uniacque. And if all this were not enough, mark April 30 as well: for International Jazz Day, the Eleonora Strino Trio will perform in Piazza Mascheroni, right beside the UNESCO Walls. A spring appendix that ideally extends the spirit of the festival well beyond March.

How to arrive prepared

Tickets have been on sale since the end of January, so if you have not done it yet, hurry to look for the last available seats. Tickets are available by clicking on this link.

Bergamo in March is cold, yes. But with this program, you will hardly feel the cold: jazz warms everyone!