What's new at New Orleans Jazz Fest 2026
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The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is just weeks away.
Why it matters: The music and cultural fest is one of the city's signature events, drawing 500,000 visitors and generating an estimated $500 million economic impact.
The big picture: Flags are going up at the Fair Grounds and crews have begun building on the field, festival producer Quint Davis said Tuesday.
- He released the daily schedules, aka the cubes, during the press party.
What's new: The Cultural Pavilion will highlight Jamaican music and food. Ziggy and Stephen Marley headline, while Sean Paul brings dancehall beats.
- Paul Rogers created this year's poster, which celebrates the 125th anniversary of Louis Armstrong. He's on a streetcar with other iconic New Orleans musicians.
- This year's BayouWear print is called "Rhythm in Blues." Inspired by Black Masking Indians, it features electric blue feathers and rhythm instruments.
Zoom in: Shell, which has sponsored the festival for 20 years, has extended its sponsorship for another five years, officials announced Tuesday.
- Ochsner will sponsor the expanded kids area again this year.
Zoom out: The festival has more than 600 musicians and artists, with 85% of them from Louisiana, says City Council President JP Morrell, who spoke at Tuesday's event.
- The big stage headliners include the Eagles, T-Pain, Stevie Nicks, Alabama Shakes, Nas, Rod Stewart, David Byrne, Mavis Staples and Earth, Wind & Fire.
- Morris Bart, the sponsor of the Gospel Tent, tells Axios he's excited about bigger names on the stage this year, including the Blind Boys of Alabama and Charmaine and Cyril Neville.
If you go: Discounted daily tickets are available for Louisiana residents.
What's next: Gates open April 23 for the first weekend.
- See the fest map, food vendors and craft vendors.