February 13, 2026
April is a very special month at the New Orleans Jazz Museum as it happens to be Jazz Appreciation Month—no small thing with the musical form’s Big Easy roots and remarkable heritage. The apex is International Jazz Day, April 30, which was originally proposed by renowned jazz performer and composer Herbie Hancock and is sponsored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Launched in 2011, International Jazz Day shines a spotlight on jazz and its diplomatic role of bringing people together worldwide. Each year, cities across the globe host special events and concerts on International Jazz Day, with the common goal of “bringing together communities, schools, artists, historians, academics, and jazz enthusiasts all over the world to celebrate and learn about jazz and its roots, future and impact; raise awareness of the need for intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding; and reinforce international cooperation and communication.”
Here in the Big Easy, the Jazz Museum offers not one but two exciting events that music fans won’t want to miss. First up, the museum welcomes locals and visitors to get funky at the annual Gallatin Street Festival, which honors the Jazz Museum’s in-house label, Gallatin Street Records, and its ensemble of extraordinary artists. Held on April 27 from noon to 7:00 p.m., the festival will be headlined by the “Songbird of New Orleans,” Robin Barnes, whose debut album, Louisiana Love, will be released May 1. In addition, the public can groove to live performances by the label’s roster of gifted musicians, such as Bo Dollis Jr. & the Wild Magnolias, Mahmoud Chouki, Detroit Brooks, the George Brown Band, Kermit Ruffins, James Andrews & the Crescent City All-Stars, and Cha Wa. (A complete lineup is available at nolajazzmuseum.org.) Attendees can also pick up cool, music-centric merchandise and vinyl records and enjoy tasty cuisine and cocktails prepared by local vendors.
On April 28 from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., join the New Orleans Jazz Museum and Loyola University’s music department in celebrating the eighth annual International Jazz Day Festival. It’s free and open to the public. Come tap your toes to exceptional performances from New Orleans–area schools and universities, plus beloved local musicians. You can also satisfy your taste buds with delectable, internationally inspired cuisine (available for purchase), celebrating the many cultures from which jazz musicians hail.
Housed in the historic Old U.S. Mint at 400 Esplanade Avenue, the New Orleans Jazz Museum is ideally situated in the heart of the city’s vibrant music scene. Through partnerships with local, national, and international educational institutions, the New Orleans Jazz Museum promotes global understanding of jazz as one of the most innovative, historically pivotal art forms. The acclaimed museum hosts more than 365 concerts and 15 festivals annually and showcases the largest and most comprehensive jazz-related collection in the world, with more than 25,000 artifacts. For tickets and a complete schedule of museum events, visit nolajazzmuseum.org.
Here in the Big Easy, the Jazz Museum offers not one but two exciting events that music fans won’t want to miss. First up, the museum welcomes locals and visitors to get funky at the annual Gallatin Street Festival, which honors the Jazz Museum’s in-house label, Gallatin Street Records, and its ensemble of extraordinary artists. Held on April 27 from noon to 7:00 p.m., the festival will be headlined by the “Songbird of New Orleans,” Robin Barnes, whose debut album, Louisiana Love, will be released May 1. In addition, the public can groove to live performances by the label’s roster of gifted musicians, such as Bo Dollis Jr. & the Wild Magnolias, Mahmoud Chouki, Detroit Brooks, the George Brown Band, Kermit Ruffins, James Andrews & the Crescent City All-Stars, and Cha Wa. (A complete lineup is available at nolajazzmuseum.org.) Attendees can also pick up cool, music-centric merchandise and vinyl records and enjoy tasty cuisine and cocktails prepared by local vendors.
On April 28 from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., join the New Orleans Jazz Museum and Loyola University’s music department in celebrating the eighth annual International Jazz Day Festival. It’s free and open to the public. Come tap your toes to exceptional performances from New Orleans–area schools and universities, plus beloved local musicians. You can also satisfy your taste buds with delectable, internationally inspired cuisine (available for purchase), celebrating the many cultures from which jazz musicians hail.
Housed in the historic Old U.S. Mint at 400 Esplanade Avenue, the New Orleans Jazz Museum is ideally situated in the heart of the city’s vibrant music scene. Through partnerships with local, national, and international educational institutions, the New Orleans Jazz Museum promotes global understanding of jazz as one of the most innovative, historically pivotal art forms. The acclaimed museum hosts more than 365 concerts and 15 festivals annually and showcases the largest and most comprehensive jazz-related collection in the world, with more than 25,000 artifacts. For tickets and a complete schedule of museum events, visit nolajazzmuseum.org.
