Indy Jazz Fest announced its 2026 lineup, featuring Sheila E., MonoNeon, Karl Denson and Brandon Meeks as headliners.
Presented by the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation and Citizens Energy Group, Indy Jazz Fest returns Sept. 22-26 for a week full of music by celebrated local, national and international musicians. Festivalgoers will have access to even more music this year, in addition to being some of the first to experience ARTSPARK, a newly restored public art installation at the Indy Art Center during the Grand Finale, according to a press release.
“The Indy Art Center is thrilled to host the Indy Jazz Fest Grand Finale,” Mark Williams, president and CEO of the Indy Art Center, said in a statement. “Attendees will be among the first to see the revitalized ARTSPARK after a $3.6 million renovation that includes new and restored public art, a fully accessible trail system, and new landscaping and terraces. It’s the perfect setting for one of Indy’s premier music events, and fulfills the recent community conversations about bringing more cultural events and activations back to our Broad Ripple community.”
Since its inception in 1999, Indy Jazz Fest has continued to celebrate the vibrancy and diversity of Indianapolis’s jazz scene each year. Returning this year is the festival’s “All Around Town” model, which places artists at various venues around the city to increase access to music throughout the week. The festival kicks off with the Sunset Series, featuring small, intimate performances at the Jazz Kitchen, The Cabaret and the Vogue, leading up to the Grand Finale at the Indy Art Center and Opti Park in Broad Ripple on Sept. 26.
“By pairing global icons with homegrown artists, we create an unforgettable festival experience that directly fuels our local creative ecosystem,” Rob Dixon, artistic director of Indy Jazz Fest, said in a statement.
Sunset Series
Miles at 100 featuring the Indianapolis Jazz Collective
Sept. 22, 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
The Jazz Kitchen, 5377 N. College Ave.
🎟️ $30-60
Coltrane at 100 featuring the Indianapolis Jazz Collective
Sept. 23, 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
The Jazz Kitchen, 5377 N. College Ave.
🎟️ $30-60
Nicole Zuraitis presented by The Cabaret
Sept. 25, 8 p.m.
The Cabaret, 924 N. Pennsylvania St. Suite B
🎟️ $60-90
The Big Beat featuring Nate Smith + The Nth Power + Break Science
Sept. 25, 8 p.m.
The Vogue, 6259 N. College Ave.
🎟️ $60
Tito Puente Jr. and Néstor Torres
🗓️ Sept. 25, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
📍 The Jazz Kitchen, 5377 N. College Ave.
🎟️ $35-90
The Grand Finale
Rounding out the week is the Grand Finale, a family-friendly celebration featuring music, food, Indy Jazz Legacy exhibits and more. The Indy Jazz Fest Grand Finale takes place on Sept. 26 at the Indy Art Center and Opti Park, 820 E. 67th St. This year, the festival has expanded to include music spread across two stages beginning at 2 p.m. Gates open at 1 p.m.
Headlining artists include Sheila E. and the E-Train, MonoNeon, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Rick Braun playing Chuck Mangione, Brandon Meeks, the Charlie Hunter Trio, Bashiri Asad, Dave Stryker with Rob Dixon, Sam Fribush and Richard “Sleepy” Floyd, Jared Thompson and Premium Blend and the Sean Imboden Large Ensemble.
Tickets for the Grand Finale are $100 for adults, $25 for students and free for kids 14 and under. For more information, to view the full schedule or purchase tickets, visit indyjazzfest.net.
Tickets for each of the Sunset Series events can be purchased at the host venue websites, including thecabaret.org, thejazzkitchen.com, thevogue.com and turntableindy.com.
This article was written by Indianapolis Recorder reporter Chloe McGowan.
