EFG London Jazz Festival Opens on 13th November With Ten Days Marking 100 Years of Miles Davis and John Coltrane

The EFG London Jazz Festival returns for its 34th edition from Friday 13th to Sunday 22nd November, with more than 60 venues taking part across the city. The programme runs from the Royal Albert Hall and the Barbican down to the small Dalston club where the city's jazz scene meets every week, and this year it carries an extra weight: 2026 marks 100 years since the births of Miles Davis and John Coltrane.

Two centenaries sit at the heart of the programme

Miles Davis was born on 26th May 1926 and John Coltrane on 23rd September 1926, and between them they reshaped jazz more than once. The festival marks both.

At the Barbican, Coltrane 100: Both Directions At Once brings together the saxophonists Joe Lovano and Melissa Aldana, the South African pianist Nduduzo Makhathini, the bassist Linda May Han Oh and the drummer Jeff 'Tain' Watts. At EartH in Hackney, the trumpeter and producer Emma-Jean Thackray presents Dear Miles: A Love Letter, which takes Davis's electric period onto the dance floor. At Olympia in west London, the saxophonist Branford Marsalis shares an evening with the singer Dianne Reeves. On the opening night, the harpist Alina Bzhezhinska plays After John Coltrane at the Vortex Jazz Club in Dalston.

The big nights to book first

The singer Samara Joy, one of the most celebrated jazz voices of her generation, returns to the festival at the Royal Festival Hall. The drum and bass pioneer Goldie performs Dare To Dream on the same stage with a live band, an orchestra and guests. Melody Gardot plays the Royal Albert Hall with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Thanda Choir and the trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf.

The Malian singer and guitarist Fatoumata Diawara headlines the Roundhouse, and Cécile McLorin Salvant, a three-time Grammy winner, prepares a special show with the BBC Concert Orchestra at the Southbank Centre. The Mumbai-born singer Asha Puthli makes a rare UK appearance at the Barbican, with Anoushka Shankar as a special guest and the trumpeter Yazz Ahmed alongside her.

The festival also stretches well beyond the jazz club. Ben Folds plays the Royal Festival Hall, Morcheeba bring their trip-hop to Troxy, GoGo Penguin play two nights at KOKO and the Kronos Quartet appear at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Lizz Wright brings gospel and soul to Cadogan Hall, and Sam Gendel and Sam Wilkes play together at Union Chapel.

The clubs where the festival starts

Some of the best nights happen in small clubs where you sit a few feet from the band. On Friday 13th November, Natty Congeroo and His Flames of Rhythm open the festival at the Jamboree in Limehouse, while the Vortex hosts the singer Lily Lyons as well as the Coltrane tribute. On Saturday 14th November, the New York drummer Ari Hoenig brings his trio with the guitarist Tom Ollendorff to the Vortex for two sets, and the saxophonist George Crowley plays the Green Note in Camden. Tickets for these shows cost a fraction of the concert hall prices, and they leave room for the discoveries that make a festival worth the effort.

Planning ten days of music

Each concert is sold separately through its venue, and the headline shows sell first. Book the one or two big nights you care about most, then fill the gaps with club dates once you have seen the full schedule on the festival website. The opening weekend also coincides with the Lord Mayor's Show on Saturday 14th November, so a morning in the City and an evening at the Barbican make an easy pairing.

EFG London Jazz Festival at a glance

• Dates: Friday 13th to Sunday 22nd November 2026
• Venues: more than 60 across London
• Centenary shows: Coltrane 100 at the Barbican, Dear Miles: A Love Letter at EartH, Branford Marsalis and Dianne Reeves at Olympia
• Headliners: Samara Joy, Goldie, Melody Gardot, Fatoumata Diawara, Cécile McLorin Salvant