The August Wilson African American Cultural Center announced on June 2 that the 16th Annual Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival, co-presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, will take place from September 17 to 20, 2026. The festival will feature free performances on Liberty Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh as well as ticketed concerts at the cultural center and partner venues.
Janis Burley, President and CEO of the August Wilson African American Cultural Center and the festival’s Artistic Director and founder, said, “Our America250 celebrates how jazz, soul, blues, gospel and R&B have shaped our country.” Burley added that as the nation approaches its semiquincentennial, the festival will explore how these genres have influenced both American and global culture.
Kenya T. Boswell, Senior Vice President of Community Affairs for Highmark Health and President of the Highmark Foundation, said, “Through our Highmark Bright Blue Futures program, we are proud to support events that not only showcase the vitality and well-being of our community but also drive growth for our local economy.”
The festival will include two B.U.I.L.D. artist residencies supported by the Joyce and George Wein Foundation. Producer Eric Roberson and DJ Kid Capri will serve as artists-in-residence performing their own music along with commissioned works inspired by the Our America250 theme. Other featured performers include Terri Lyne Carrington, Orrin Evans—who will direct a tribute to Thelonious Monk—and Sean Jones. The event also highlights a variety of artists such as Lady BlackBird, Annie & The Caldwells, Anyah Nancy from Pittsburgh, The Rakiem Walker Project from New York City, T. Marie & Friends from Cleveland, and Nathan Paul Davis & the Admirables from Akron.
A Lifetime Achievement Award is scheduled for Bernard “Pretty” Purdie for his contributions across multiple genres including jazz and funk; he is known for his work with Steely Dan, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, among others. Purdie is set to perform during the festival with a band led by Dwayne Dolphin.
Additional activities include THE JAZZ TRAIN hosted by Orrin Evans in partnership with Amtrak, offering round-trip train packages from select cities with live jazz onboard followed by four days at the festival itself. Leading up to September’s main event there will be collaborations with community partners including free concerts, student jam sessions, and poster contests sponsored by Duolingo, among other engagement opportunities.