The 2026 Newport Jazz Festival got underway Friday at Fort Adams State Park, delivering a full day of music across four stages from morning through evening.
The day opened with a Local Jam on the Fort Stage and Braxton Cook on the Quad Stage, with Concurrence kicking off the Harbor Stage at 11 a.m. The afternoon built steadily, with Angine de Poitrine and Yebba holding down the Fort Stage, Anoushka Shankar and the Charles Lloyd Sky Quartet on the Quad, and Tia Fuller featuring Shamie Fuller Royston, Mohini Dey, Chief Adjuah, and Lalah Hathaway rolling through the Harbor Stage. The Foundation Stage featured a Newport Jazz Camp showcase and a conversation between Nate Smith and Charles Lloyd.
Vulfpeck closed out the Fort Stage in the headlining slot, with Little Simz wrapping the Quad Stage and Robert Glasper featuring Bilal and Ari Lennox delivering a standout late-afternoon set.
The festival continues today with “Sonny Miles on a Trane” featuring Kamasi Washington and Chief Adjuah closing the Fort Stage, with Gary Clark Jr., Cory Wong with Joshua Redman, Nate Smith, and Butcher Brown filling out the afternoon. Jonathan Batiste Trios headlines the Quad Stage in the evening, with Snarky Puppy and Atomic Habitz featuring Marcus King, Chris Dave, and Mononeon earlier in the day. The Harbor Stage features Terri Lyne Carrington, Linda May Han Oh Trio, Gotts Street Park, and more.
Sunday closes the weekend with Herbie Hancock headlining the Fort Stage, joined by Thundercat, Flea and the Honora Band, and Celeste. Lake Street Dive and Arlo Parks anchor the Quad Stage, while The Bad Plus Farewell Tour, Charlie Hunter and Ella Feingold, and the Sullivan Fortner Trio headline the Harbor Stage.
What’sUpNewp photographer Rick Farrell was on the grounds to capture it all. Here’s a look at Day 1. Look for Day 2 and Day 3 galleries from Rick Farrell throughout the weekend.
