Blue Summer Jazz Festival 2026 will turn Park Starego Browaru into an open-air concert venue on 18 and 19 July. The third edition brings major international artists, a strong Poznań ensemble and a programme that moves freely between jazz, soul, R&B, funk and afrobeat. With two carefully planned evenings and a central location, the festival offers an accessible way to hear ambitious live music outside the usual club setting.
Blue Note Moves Its Stage Outdoors
Blue Summer Jazz Festival 2026 is the summer project of Poznań’s Blue Note club, which temporarily takes its programme beyond the venue at CK Zamek and into Park Starego Browaru. The festival is now in its third edition and remains focused on a simple idea: present high-level jazz in a relaxed outdoor space in the centre of the city. Gates open at 18:00 on both days, with the first concert beginning at 18:30. The limited number of seats and loungers means visitors can also bring a blanket or stand closer to the stage.
For the latest programme updates, ticket information and practical details, visit the official
Saturday Moves from Funk to Modern British Sounds
Blue Summer Jazz Festival 2026 opens on Saturday, 18 July, with New York saxophonist Sam Greenfield at 18:30. His music brings together jazz, funk, fusion and pop, making him a welcoming first act for listeners who may not follow traditional jazz closely. At 19:45, Gretchen Parlato will bring a more restrained and detailed vocal approach. The final Saturday performance begins at 21:00 with Nubiyan Twist, the London collective known for combining jazz with afrobeat, hip-hop, soul and electronic music. Their large-band energy should give the first evening a strong, dance-friendly finish.
Sunday Puts Major Vocal and Piano Talent Centre Stage
Blue Summer Jazz Festival 2026 continues on Sunday, 19 July, with a local opening and two major international names. At 18:30, Blue Jazz Orchestra will perform a project dedicated to the music of Kenny Wheeler, joined by vocalist Anna Gadt and trumpeter Jerzy Małek. Grammy-winning singer Ledisi follows at 19:30 with a programme connected to her tribute to Dinah Washington. At 21:00, Japanese pianist Hiromi closes the festival with Sonicwonder, a group built around an energetic mix of contemporary jazz, jazz-rock, funk and classical influences. It is a varied Sunday programme, but every act has a clear musical identity.
A Line-up That Shows How Broad Jazz Has Become
Blue Summer Jazz Festival 2026 does not treat jazz as one fixed style. Ledisi brings the expressive weight of soul and R&B, while Parlato works with subtle phrasing, rhythm and space. Nubiyan Twist approaches the genre through a busy, collective sound shaped by British club culture and African rhythms. Greenfield adds direct funk grooves, and Hiromi’s Sonicwonder puts technical precision into a fast-moving electric setting. The Blue Jazz Orchestra also keeps the programme connected to Poznań, giving the city’s own musicians an important place alongside touring performers. Together, the line-up makes sense for both committed jazz listeners and people simply looking for a good summer concert.
Tickets, Entry and Useful Festival Information
Blue Summer Jazz Festival 2026 currently offers Final Call tickets through Eventim. A one-day ticket costs PLN 199, while a two-day pass costs PLN 299, with ticketing service fees added by the seller. Children aged six and under can enter free, and children aged seven to twelve receive a 50 percent discount. Visitors exchange their ticket for a wristband at the entrance. Payments inside the festival area are cashless, and guests may bring one factory-sealed bottle of water of up to 0.5 litres. Food is available in Stary Browar, while a drinks area will operate within the festival grounds.
A Strong Addition to Poznań’s Summer Calendar
Blue Summer Jazz Festival 2026 gives Poznań a focused two-day event that feels substantial without becoming oversized. The Park Starego Browaru setting is easy to reach, the running times are clear, and the programme balances respected international musicians with a visible local presence. Most importantly, it offers several different routes into jazz, whether through soul vocals, funk rhythms, big-band writing or Hiromi’s high-energy piano. For anyone staying in Poznań on the weekend of 18–19 July, this is one of the city’s most interesting live-music options.
