The 2026 Hudson Jazz Festival is just a couple of weekends away--October 2 to 4. In addition to the nightly concerts on the Hudson Hall mainstage, there is music at venues--indoors and out--all around town.
The 2026 Hudson Jazz Festival expands through the city this fall with the return of Sounds Around Town, a free live performance series at venues, restaurants, bars, retail stores, galleries, and public spaces across the city. Curated by Bard College Professor of Music and jazz pianist John Esposito, the series features nearly thirty Bard College jazz students and faculty and Hudson Valley musicians and local artists playing sixteen free shows. Performances begin September 26 and continue through through the Hudson Jazz Festival weekend, October 2 to 4.
Sounds Around Town begins with performances at the Hudson Farmers' Market on September 26 by the Sivaan Barak Saacks Quintet and Miles Taylour Sweeny: Bad Times Trio. The series resumes during Festival week with free performances at Hudson Hall, the Hudson Amtrak Station, the PARC Park outside Mel the Bakery, and retail stores, galleries, restaurants, bars, and breweries through the city. Sounds Around Town artists include John Esposito, Maia Jarrett Quartet, Nico Bald Trio, Sparrow Lore, Sam Bernhardt Quartet, Armen Donelian, and many more. . . .
Free and family-friendly programming is also woven throughout the Festival, including the October 1 free Community Kick-Off at Hudson Harmonic, featuring the Hudson Valley Maverick Jazz Camp Ensemble, Hudson High School Jazz Band, and Flying Elements from Bard College. Complimentary light snacks will be provided with a cash bar, along with information to help residents and visitors plan their Festival weekend. Then, on Sunday at 1:00 p.m., Lady Moon & Friends play a Family Concert at the Half Moon.
Other city-wide events include a free Lunch & Learn: A Conversation on Jazz, Collaboration with Vuyo Sotashe, Chris Pattishall and Festival host Keanna Faircloth at The Spark of Hudson; a Sunday jazz brunch with Brazilian guitarist Vinicius Gomes at Pocketbook Hudson; and the Late Set, the Festival's multi-level opening night afterparty at The Spark of Hudson on Friday, October 2, at 9:00 p.m., featuring live music by bassist Tristen Jarvis and a live DJ set to get the dance floor pumping.
Every year this event gets better and better. The Opera House has done, and continues to do, a great job with this festival.
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