Herbie Hancock at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Rick Farrell/What'sUpNewp)

The 2026 Newport Jazz Festival wrapped up Sunday at Fort Adams State Park with Herbie Hancock headlining a closing day full of standout performances, a last-minute cancellation, and one of the weekend’s most spontaneous moments.

Sienna Spiro, scheduled to perform on the Quad Stage, cancelled due to a throat infection. Newport Jazz Festival Artistic Director Nate Smith stepped in, assembling an impromptu “Off The Cuff” set that drew on the wealth of talent still on the grounds — a fitting, unscripted finale for a festival built on improvisation.

Herbie Hancock headlined the Fort Stage, capping a weekend that lived up to its billing. Thundercat, Celeste, and Flea and the Honora Band were among the crowd favorites of the day, with Arlo Parks and Lake Street Dive rounding out the Quad Stage. The Harbor Stage featured The Bad Plus on their farewell tour, Charlie Hunter and Ella Feingold, the Sullivan Fortner Trio, Dana and Alden, and Nduduzo Makhathini.

One of the day’s most joyful moments came from the Adaptive Music Collaborative, a nonprofit dedicated to creating inclusive and empowering musical experiences for children of all abilities, who marched in a parade through the Fort Adams Quad to the delight of the crowd. More information about their work can be found at their website.

Photos by What’sUpNewp photographers Rick Farrell and Justin Walker.

Photos by Justin Walker

Fans at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Fans at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Fans at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Fans at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Fans at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
The 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Fans at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Adaptive NJF Music Collaborative at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Arlo Parks at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Dana and Alden at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Dana and Alden at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Flea and the Honora at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Flea and the Honora at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Flea and the Honora at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Herbie Hancock at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Herbie Hancock at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Herbie Hancock at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Herbie Hancock at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Lake Street Dive at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Lake Street Dive at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Marquis Hill at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Michael Mayo at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Music Collaborative at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Music Collaborative at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Music Collaborative at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Nate Smith at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Ndudutoz Makhathini at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Ndudutoz Makhathini at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Ndudutoz Makhathini at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
SML at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Sunday Local Jam, James Freeman at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
The Dip at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
The Dip at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Thundercat at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Thundercat at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Celeste at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Celeste at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Celeste at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
Celeste at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
The Bad Plus Farewell Tour at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)
The Bad Plus Farewell Tour at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Justin Walker/What’sUpNewp)

Photos by Rick Farrell

Arlo Parks at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Rick Farrell/What’sUpNewp)
Celeste at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Rick Farrell/What’sUpNewp)
Charlie Hunter and Ella Feingold at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Rick Farrell/What’sUpNewp)
Dana and Alden at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Rick Farrell/What’sUpNewp)
Flea and the Honora Band at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Rick Farrell/What’sUpNewp)
Fonville X Fribush at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Rick Farrell/What’sUpNewp)
Herbie Hancock at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Rick Farrell/What’sUpNewp)
Lake Street Dive at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Rick Farrell/What’sUpNewp)
Local Jam at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Rick Farrell/What’sUpNewp)
Marquis Hill at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Rick Farrell/What’sUpNewp)
Michael Mayo at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Rick Farrell/What’sUpNewp)
Nate Smith Off The Cuff at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Rick Farrell/What’sUpNewp)
Nduduzo Makhatini at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Rick Farrell/What’sUpNewp)
SML at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Rick Farrell/What’sUpNewp)
Sullivan Fortner Trio at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Rick Farrell/What’sUpNewp)
The Bad Plus at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Rick Farrell/What’sUpNewp)
The Dip at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Rick Farrell/What’sUpNewp)
Thundercat at the 2026 Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (Rick Farrell/What’sUpNewp)

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...

Justin Walker is a Newport County native who specializes in sports, portraits, weddings and events as a freelance photographer around New England. Justin has over a decade of experience starting in college covering high profile events, collegiate and professional sports in Washington, D.C. His photojournalism and freelance work can be seen in various local and national publications. Check out his work at justinlwalkerphotography.com!

​Rick Farrell of Mojo Photography has been drawn to music his entire life. Maybe it was growing up in Newport, RI, host to the venerable Newport Jazz and Folk festivals. Or maybe it was the countless hours listening to his older siblings' classic LP's and 45's on the stereo in the 1960's. Whatever the reason, there has always been a strong connection. He had originally taken up photography as a hobby, eventually gravitating towards shooting professionally in 2007. Never knowing what his true...