From 9 to 11 July, Piazza della Riforma comes alive with live music brought by Estival Jazz 2026. The Lugano event, now in its 46th edition, is preparing to officially open the jazz season. Lugano Long Lake Festival, confirming its international vocation and at the same time inaugurating a new phase in its history.
This year's edition takes on a special significance in several respects. On the one hand, it offers a program that intertwines jazz, singer-songwriter music, hip-hop, and international influences; on the other, it marks the farewell of Jacky Marti from the artistic direction after over four decades of leadershipAn important transition, which also coincides with the introduction of a new organizational and economic model designed to guarantee the future sustainability of the festival.
A symbolic edition between continuity and renewal
Estival Jazz 2026 represents a turning point for an event that, over the course of its long history, has built a recognizable identity in the European music scene. The decision to introduce a mixed format, with one free evening and two paid evenings, responds to the need to consolidate the event's economic foundations in a profoundly changed context.
Rising costs associated with live music, market transformation, and the progressive reduction of available resources have necessitated a structural rethink. The goal is to preserve the high quality standards that have always distinguished Estival, while reducing its dependence on public funding.
Starting in 2027, the paid model will be extended to the entire program. A transition phase is planned for 2026, which will allow the public to familiarize themselves with the new approach without sacrificing the original spirit of the event.
Farewell to Jacky Marti, protagonist of an era
The 46th edition will also be an opportunity to pay tribute to Jacky Marti, the festival's co-founder and longtime artistic director. After more than 45 years at the helm of Estival Jazz, Marti concludes a career that has played a key role in shaping the festival's international profile.
Under his direction, the Lugano stage has welcomed some of the greatest figures in world music, from Miles Davis to Ray Charles, from BB King to Etta James, including Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Miriam Makeba, Cesária Évora, Van Morrison, Chet Baker, Yes, and Jethro Tull.
During the opening evening on July 9, Marti will receive the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award from Corriere del Ticino, as well as an official recognition from the City of Lugano.
The Estival Jazz 2026 program
July 9: Free entry between Brazil and Switzerland
The free opening night will feature the Hamilton de Holanda Trio, featuring Salomão Soares and Thiago "Big" Rabello, joined by the Orchestra della Svizzera italiana. This concert promises to combine the tradition of Brazilian choro with the expressive freedom of contemporary jazz.
Hamilton de Holanda, one of the most authoritative interpreters of contemporary Brazilian music and winner of five Latin Grammys, will bring his innovative musical language to Lugano, enriched by his collaboration with the OSI, the resident orchestra at the LAC and the protagonist of an artistic season of international importance.
The evening will open with Brazilian pianist Amaro Freitas, a leading figure in contemporary jazz. With his album Y'Y, the artist explores the relationship between music, nature and spirituality, drawing inspiration from the Amazon and the encounter with the Sateré Mawé indigenous community.
July 10: Antonello Venditti protagonist
The second evening will bring one of the most beloved names in Italian music to Lugano: Antonello Venditti. The Roman singer-songwriter will take the stage with his tour. DAJE! LIVE SUMMER 2026, which accompanies the release of the new live album COME ON!, scheduled for June 19.
The project collects the recordings of the celebratory concerts dedicated to the fortieth anniversary of Night before exams, which over the past two years have attracted over 300.000 spectators across Italy. In Lugano, Venditti will perform a selection of his most famous songs, accompanied by his historic band.
Advance tickets for this evening will be available from April 29th at 12 pm on biglietteria.ch.
July 11th: closing between rap and urban contaminations
Closing Estival Jazz 2026 will be Ernia, one of the most representative voices of the contemporary Italian urban scene. After the success of his arena tour, the Milanese artist will stop in Lugano with his Solo Per Amore Summer Tour.
His latest project, For Money and For Love, presents itself as an intimate and reflective work, focusing on identity, relationships, personal growth, and the transition to maturity. An album that brings together the singer-songwriter's diverse artistic and personal souls.
Opening the evening will be Oddisee & Good Company. The American rapper and producer, originally from Washington, DC, is known for a style that blends hip-hop, jazz, soul, and funk, offering a sophisticated and highly personal musical approach.
Tickets for this evening will also be available at biglietteria.ch.
A more essential and transversal artistic formula
Among the new features of Estival Jazz 2026 is a revised artistic format. The traditional format of three bands per evening has given way to a more streamlined formula, consisting of an opening act and a main artist.
The choice aims to focus the listening experience, further enhancing each performance and broadening the musical range. While maintaining jazz as its defining characteristic, the festival is more open to diverse genres and languages: from singer-songwriter to hip-hop, from soul to funk, and even international influences.
A strategy that aims to reach different audiences, without sacrificing the artistic quality that has always been the hallmark of the event.
Estival Jazz opens the Lugano LongLake Festival 2026
Estival Jazz also officially kicks off the 16th edition of the Lugano LongLake Festival, scheduled for July 9th to 26th. Considered one of Switzerland's most important open-air urban festivals, LongLake will enliven the city center with hundreds of events, including concerts, shows, meetings, street performances, and family activities.
The complete program will be presented progressively in the coming weeks on the official website longlake.ch.
Information
The evening of July 9th will be free. The evenings of July 10th and 11th will require a ticket, with advance purchases available online at biglietteria.ch.
The seating arrangement will vary depending on the evening: on July 9th and 11th, standing room is allowed, while the concert on July 10th with Antonello Venditti will feature an entirely seated audience.
Particular attention will be paid to accessibility. People with disabilities, with or without a companion, will be able to use a dedicated area within the concert venue. Guaranteed seats must be reserved by June 10, 2026.
