Newark will once again become a major destination for jazz lovers this fall as the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents the 15th annual TD James Moody Jazz Festival from Nov. 6-22.
Sponsored in part by TD Bank, the festival will bring together internationally acclaimed jazz musicians, emerging artists and performers from across genres for nearly three weeks of concerts, collaborations, tributes and free community performances throughout Newark.
The 2026 festival will celebrate musical legacies while looking toward the future of jazz, with special tributes to Miles Davis, Zakir Hussain and James Moody. The lineup will also feature a special 80th birthday celebration for Broadway and film icon Ben Vereen.
Among the festival highlights is “The Space Between the Notes: Honoring Zakir Hussain,” featuring Indian sitarist Niladri Kumaar on Nov. 6. The performance will pay tribute to the late tabla master and longtime collaborator of Kumaar.
The festival will continue Nov. 7 with a free Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars Tribute to James Moody at Newark’s Bethany Baptist Church.
On Nov. 12, trumpeter Jon Faddis and an all-star ensemble will present “Miles @ 100,” celebrating the centennial of Miles Davis with music associated with Birth of the Cool and Kind of Blue.
Other performances include two-time Grammy Award winner Gregory Porter with Madeleine Peyroux on Nov. 13, guitarist Jesse Cook on Nov. 14, and Grammy Award winners Bruce Hornsby and Christian McBride in an intimate conversation and performance on Nov. 15.
The festival will also spotlight New Jersey’s next generation of musicians through the NJMEA All-State Jazz Band and Jazz Choir and bring jazz and classical music together through performances by the New Jersey Symphony, McBride and conductor Eric Jacobsen.
One of the festival’s marquee events will be Ben Vereen’s 80th Birthday Concert on Nov. 21. Vereen will be joined by performers including Karrin Allyson, Shoshana Bean, Melba Moore, Stephanie Pope and Lillias White, along with the Andy Farber Orchestra.
Jazz legend Charles Lloyd will also perform with Bill Frisell, Larry Grenadier and Kweku Sumbry on Nov. 21.
The festival concludes Nov. 22 with performances including Dorthaan’s Place featuring the Wallace Roney Jr. Quartet and the 15th annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, which celebrates the legacy of Newark-born jazz legend Sarah Vaughan.
Festival events will take place at multiple Newark venues, including NJPAC, Clement’s Place and Bethany Baptist Church. Tickets range from free to $79.
Tickets and festival information are available through NJPAC.