Jazz has always been about bringing people together, breaking barriers, and inspiring creativity across cultures. International Jazz Day reminds us that music has the power to transcend borders, foster dialogue, and spark joy and hope.”
Herbie Hancock, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador
Jazz in Abu Dhabi
The 2025 edition of International Jazz Day, organized by UNESCO and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, is being celebrated on 30 April in more than 190 countries. The Global Host for this year's celebration is the city of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Over the course of five weeks, a citywide series of jazz performances, educational programs, and community events will be held in Abu Dhabi. This includes the internationally broadcast International Jazz Day 2025 All-Star Global Concert on 30 April at the Etihad Arena, the largest indoor entertainment venue in the region.
Building on the momentum of International Jazz Day, Jazz Month Abu Dhabi extends the global festivities and reinforces jazz’s presence in the region. It features live performances, pop-up concerts, workshops, artist residencies, and educational events, underscoring jazz’s connections to various musical traditions and artistic disciplines. The show is to be broadcast via YouTube, Facebook, and UN WebTV to millions of viewers worldwide.
In addition to the Global Concert, UNESCO encourages schools, universities, and non-governmental organizations around the world to celebrate International Jazz Day. Performing arts venues, community centers, town squares, parks, libraries, museums, restaurants, clubs, and festivals organize thousands of activities, while public radio and television feature jazz on and around International Jazz Day.
All-Star Global Concert
30 April 2025
Led by jazz legend pianist Herbie Hancock and hosted by Academy Award-winning actor Jeremy Irons, the All-Star Global Concert features performances by an international roster of artists from all corners of the globe, including pianists John Beasley and Kenny Barron (USA), Danilo Perez (Panama) and A Bu (China); singers Dee Dee Bridgewater, Dianne Reeves (USA), Varijashree Venugopal (India); saxophonists David Sanchez (Puerto Rico), Tia Fuller (USA), Tomoaki Baba (Japan); bassists Linda May Han Oh (Australia), John Patitucci (USA); drummer Terri Lyne Carrington (USA); cellist Arqam Al Abri (UAE); flutist Elena Pinderhughes (USA), and many more artists.
On 30 April, teachers and students around the world use International Jazz Day as an opportunity to learn more about the empowering history and legacy of jazz music. Check out our growing library of free educational videos and resources.
Music of improvisation and collective creation
International Jazz Day raises awareness in the international community of the virtues of jazz as a force for peace, unity, dialogue and enhanced cooperation among people, as well as an educational tool. Many governments, civil society organizations, educational institutions, and private citizens currently engaged in the promotion of jazz music embrace the opportunity to foster greater appreciation, not only for the music, but also for the contribution it can make to building more inclusive societies.
International Jazz Day has had extraordinary successes over the past decade, becoming the world’s largest annual celebration of jazz. It is a global movement, engaging people annually, on every continent, through education programs, performances, community outreach and media coverage.
Why Jazz?
- Jazz breaks down barriers and creates opportunities for mutual understanding and tolerance;
- Jazz is a vector of freedom of expression;
- Jazz is a symbol of unity and peace;
- Jazz reduces tensions between individuals, groups, and communities;
- Jazz encourages artistic innovation, improvisation, new forms of expression, and inclusion of traditional music forms into new ones;
- Jazz stimulates intercultural dialogue and empowers young people from marginalized societies.
In November 2011 the UNESCO General Conference proclaimed 30 April as “International Jazz Day”. This International Day brings together communities, schools, artists, historians, academics, and jazz enthusiasts all over the world to celebrate and learn about the art of jazz, its roots, its future and its impact. This important international art form is celebrated for promoting peace, dialogue among cultures, diversity, and respect for human rights and human dignity, eradicating discrimination, promoting freedom of expression, fostering gender equality, and reinforcing the role of youth for social change.
Global events
The worldwide programme for International Jazz Day 2025 also includes an extraordinary range of programming in dozens of countries, with concerts and performance-based initiatives complemented by wide-ranging social outreach and educational activities.
Listen
Grammy award winning composer Antonio Sánchez defines jazz simply as “freedom,” highlighting its inclusive power to bring “different elements together, transforming it into something greater.”
Resources
- UNESCO International Jazz Day
- International Jazz Day official site
- The UNESCO Courier
Let's Talk About Jazz - Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz
- Herbie Hancock: Reflections on 10 Years of International Jazz Day
This edition will highlight the city’s rich tapestry of creativity and cultural heritage while showcasing jazz’s ability to connect communities and promote dialogue and peace across continents.”
Audrey Azoulay
Director-General, UNESCO
