BERGAMO JAZZ 2026
Artistic Direction by Joe Lovano

Huge success for the 47th edition of Bergamo Jazz
More than 8,600 total attendance
9 sold out out of 11 ticketed concerts
Audiences from 17 Italian regions and 24 other countries

Over 8,600 total attendance. 3,546 spectators at the three evenings at the Donizetti Theater, 814 of them subscribers (31 more than last year). 9 sold out out of 11 ticketed events. These are the first highlights of Bergamo Jazz 2026, which concluded happily on Sunday evening with the highly applauded exclusive project in tribute to Miles Davis and John Coltrane conceived by U.S. saxophonist Joe Lovano, the Festival’s Artistic Director for the past three years.
A great number of audiences came from all over Italy, representing 17 regions, and as many as 24 foreign nations: Romania, Switzerland, Spain, France, the United States of America, Greece, Slovakia, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Israel, Belgium, Serbia, Hong Kong, Moldova, Poland, Germany, Ukraine, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, Sweden, Austria, Brazil, Australia, and Japan. Also significant was the presence of journalists sent from the United States, Germany, France, Great Britain and Serbia, as well as leading Italian trade and non-trade publications.

Bergamo Jazz’s new dedicated website, since its launch in October 2025, has totaled nearly 50,000 views. Followers on Instagram and Facebook have reached 26,500 for more than 17,000 interactions with content.

In addition to the final evening, which featured other great soloists such as Avishai Cohen Shabaka Hutchings, George Garzone, Leo Genovese, Drew Gress and Joey Baron, all well tuned to the frequencies of Joe Lovano, at least the concerts of Lakecja Benjamin, who involved stalls, stages and galleries repeating the resounding success of three years ago, Steve Coleman, the Bad Plus, Franco D’Andrea and a very refined Simona Molinari at the Teatro Sociale should be mentioned. The concerts hosted at the Accademia Carrara, with Anais Drago’s trio, at Sala Piatti, with singer Norma Winstone and pianist Kit Downes. at the Aula Picta of the Bishop’s Museum, with pianists Wayne Horvitz and Leo Genovese, and at the Palazzolo Institute Auditorium, with Jazz Passengers and guitarist Hedvig Mollestad’s trio, were also highly appreciated, as well as the events of the “Sparks of Jazz” review scheduled in various venues in the city.

“Once again this year we cannot fail to express great satisfaction with the results achieved by Bergamo Jazz,” comments Massimo Boffelli, General Manager of the Donizetti Theater Foundation, “So Bergamo’s is once again confirmed as one of the best-loved Italian jazz festivals ever, even by the increasingly numerous audiences coming from abroad, with consequent positive repercussions on the city’s tourism. A great result achieved thanks to impeccable teamwork, from the artistic direction to the entire staff of the Fondazione Teatro Donizetti. So my heartfelt thanks go to all those who worked hard to ensure that the organizational machine worked at its best, as well as to the institutions and sponsors who support us.”

Already set the dates for 2027, March 18-21, again under the artistic leadership of Joe Lovano, Bergamo Jazz is projected in the immediate run-up toInternational Jazz Day on April 30, with a free concert by guitarist Eleonora Strino ‘s trio in Piazza Mascheroni in Città Alta. And then, there will be events in the summer at Lazzaretto as well: the names of the artists will be announced in the coming weeks.