International Jazz Day
Next: April 30, 2027
Play it, swing it, share it.
The story
Where it comes from
International Jazz Day was the idea of the jazz pianist Herbie Hancock, who proposed it in 2011, shortly after being named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for intercultural dialogue. In November 2011 UNESCO's General Conference proclaimed 30 April International Jazz Day, to celebrate jazz as a music that crosses borders and brings people together. The first, in 2012, began with a sunrise concert in Congo Square in New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz, and ended with a sunset concert in the UN General Assembly Hall in New York.
How it's celebrated
Each year a Global Host City stages an all-star concert led by Hancock, while schools, clubs, radio stations and musicians around the world hold concerts, jam sessions, workshops and talks. The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz plans and produces the day with UNESCO. Anyone can join in by putting on a jazz record, or by going out to hear live music.
Did you know
- Osaka was the day's Global Host City in 2014.
- The first concert at the UN in 2012 included the Chinese pianist Lang Lang, the Japanese pianist Hiromi and the Indian tabla player Zakir Hussain.
- Hancock says that, within months of his proposal, every UNESCO member state had voted to adopt the day.
Coming up next
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- World Tuna Day · May 2, 2027
- World Press Freedom Day · May 3, 2027
- International Firefighters' Day · May 4, 2027
- Children's Day (Korea and Japan) · May 5, 2027