North Sea Jazz Festival – Netherlands 2026

Background & History

The North Sea Jazz Festival, founded in 1976 by Paul Acket in The Hague, Netherlands, was envisioned as Europe’s premier jazz showcase to bridge American jazz traditions with emerging European talents, drawing 10,000 attendees to the original Statenhal venue for its inaugural edition featuring icons like Dizzy Gillespie and Count Basie. By the 1980s, it had grown into a global phenomenon, expanding to 1,000+ musicians across 15 stages and earning the title of “Best Jazz Festival” multiple times at the International Jazz Festivals Organization awards, while fostering innovations like the Paul Acket Award (since 1984, honoring young artists like Sun-Mi Hong in 2025). Relocated to Rotterdam Ahoy in 2006 after Statenhal’s demolition, it has solidified its status as the world’s largest indoor jazz festival, attracting 75,000+ over three days and generating €15 million+ annually for Rotterdam’s economy through tourism and cultural exchange.

Over 50 editions, the festival has hosted 10,000+ performances, from Herbie Hancock’s fusion experiments to Norah Jones’ intimate sets, evolving from pure jazz to a broader palette of blues, soul, funk, hip-hop, R&B, and world music, reflecting Rotterdam’s diverse port-city vibe. Organized by Mojo Concerts B.V. since 2010, it emphasizes sustainability with reusable cups and solar elements since 2018, aligning with the Netherlands’ green festival standards. The 2026 edition (50th anniversary) continues this legacy amid Rotterdam’s UNESCO Music City aspirations, potentially featuring special tributes to Acket’s vision, with past headliners like Mary J. Blige (2025) paving the way for cross-genre fusions.

Event Highlights

North Sea Jazz Festival 2026, the 51st edition from July 10–12, will fill Rotterdam Ahoy’s 15 stages with 1,000+ musicians for three days of jazz, blues, soul, funk, hip-hop, R&B, and beyond, drawing 75,000+ attendees in a marathon of 150+ performances blending legends and emerging voices.

Main activities or performances: Doors open 11:30am–1am daily; highlights include Main Hall sets from expected headliners like Wynton Marsalis (trumpet masterclasses), Diana Krall (piano-vocal jazz standards), and Kamasi Washington (cosmic sax explorations), alongside up-and-comers via the Paul Acket Award (e.g., 2025’s Sun-Mi Hong). Stages span genres: Red Stage for big bands (e.g., Metropole Orkest), Blue Stage for soul/R&B (past like Thee Sacred Souls), and smaller rooms for hip-hop/jazz fusions (e.g., Omah Lay in 2025). Off-stage: Composition Project (2025’s Kika Sprangers commission), Artist in Residence (2025’s Jacob Collier workshops), and free daytime jams in Ahoy’s foyers.

Special traditions or features: The Paul Acket Award (€25,000 prize) spotlights young innovators; “Jazz in the Afternoon” free sessions for families. Sustainability: Zero-waste policy, reusable cups (€1 deposit); inclusivity with 40% female/non-binary artists. 2026’s milestone may include archival screenings of 1976 footage and a “North Sea Legacy” stage for Acket tributes.

Unique attractions for visitors: Ahoy’s labyrinthine halls create “route-building” adventures (app for schedules); pop-up jazz lounges with Rotterdam craft gins (€8); kids’ improv workshops (free, ages 6+). For 2026, expect expanded VR streams tying to Rotterdam’s tech scene.

Date & Duration

Dates: July 10 – 12, 2026 (Friday to Sunday) Duration: 3 days (11:30am–1am daily)

Venue / Location

North Sea Jazz Festival 2026 returns to Rotterdam Ahoy, a 1970s multifunctional arena (2.1 million m²) in Rotterdam’s south, featuring 15 stages across halls like the 2,500-capacity Main Hall and intimate 300-person rooms, with foyers for mingling. Ahoy’s industrial-chic design (elevated walkways, harbor views) hosts the festival’s “city within a city,” capacity 75,000/day. Metro Line D/E (Ahoy station, €4.50 from Central); free shuttles from Rotterdam Centraal (10 min). Eco-upgrades: Solar panels, bike valet (€3/day, 500 spots).

Google Maps Address: Ahoyweg 10, 3084 BA Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Ticket Information

Tickets via northseajazz.com (Mojo Concerts), with day passes €75–100, 3-day €200–250 (early bird Q1 2026). Includes all stages; standing/seated options. Sold out fast—2025 presale January. No refunds, resale via platform. Under-12 free with guardian; under-26 discounts 20% (€60–80). Disability: Reduced €50 + companion free, ramps/audio—apply info@northseajazz.com 4 weeks prior. VIP: Lounge €150 add-on (priority seating, gourmet meal €100 by Erik van Loo).

Ticket Pricing (USD, based on 2025 EUR rates, €1 ≈ $1.10):

• Minimum: Under-26 day ~$66 USD.
• Maximum: 3-day VIP bundle ~$385 USD. Day €75–100 ~$83–$110 USD; 3-day €200–250 ~$220–$275 USD.

Special Seating or VIP Options: VIP Lounge (€150, four-course meal by Michelin-starred Erik van Loo, reserved seats); accessible platforms/ramps/wheelchair zones (free, apply via email). Family: Kids’ areas with seating.

Contact Information

Email: info@northseajazz.com (general inquiries/tickets); press@northseajazz.com (media); accessibility@mojoconcerts.nl (needs). Key Staff: Mojo Concerts B.V. (organizers); Paul Acket Award committee. Phone: +31 20 312 2222 (Mojo, English/Dutch, Mon–Fri 9am–6pm). Website: https://www.northseajazz.com/en/; https://www.mojo.nl (Mojo). Social Media: @northseajazz (Instagram/Facebook, 100k+ followers); @NSJazzFest (X/Twitter). Press/Volunteers: Press via press@northseajazz.com; volunteers (setup/info, stipends) via northseajazz.com (Q1 2026). Note: Response time ~24–48 hours; multilingual.

Cultural Experience

North Sea Jazz Festival 2026 immerses 75,000+ in Rotterdam’s cosmopolitan harbor soul, where Ahoy’s vast halls echo with jazz’s improvisational freedom amid the city’s post-WWII modernist skyline—attendees in casual Euro-stylish layers sway to Kamasi Washington’s cosmic sax, blending Dutch tolerance with American roots in a port of 1 million multicultural voices. The 15-stage labyrinth fosters serendipity: Discovery routes weaving from Herbie Hancock’s fusion labs to soulful R&B lounges, evoking 1920s Harlem via Dutch canals. Inclusivity thrives: 40% female/non-binary artists, family improv jams, disability-friendly navigation tying to Rotterdam’s innovative spirit.

Evenings pulse with “North Sea Legacy” vibes—Paul Acket Award spotlights like Sun-Mi Hong’s Korean-Dutch hybrids—while foyers host gin tastings (€8) amid harbor breezes. For globals, it’s alchemical: Learning scat singing workshops (€10) or exploring Markthal’s food hall pre-fest (€5 bites), celebrating jazz’s global diaspora in a city where Art Deco meets Erasmus Bridge’s arches.

Food & Drinks

NSJF’s concessions blend Rotterdam’s global port flavors across 20+ stands in Ahoy foyers, with €5–15 items emphasizing sustainable Dutch seafood. Must-tries: Haring met uitjes (€6, raw herring with onions, Dutch classic); bitterballen (€5, beef croquettes); vegan stamppot (€8, mashed potatoes with kale). Global: Jerk chicken wraps (€10, Caribbean nod). Drinks: Bols genever (€6/shot, Dutch gin); craft IPAs from Brouwerij Noordt (€5/pint); non-alc: Elderflower tonic (€3). Intolerances: Gluten-free zones, vegan options 40%. Eco: Reusable cups (€1 deposit), fair-trade coffees (€4). VIP: Four-course by Erik van Loo (€100, Michelin-starred fusion).

Getting There

By Air: Rotterdam The Hague (RTM), 10 km south, EU flights (e.g., Transavia from London, 1.5 hours, €50+). From RTM: RET bus 33 (€3.50, 20 min to Ahoy). Schiphol (AMS, 60 km): Train to Rotterdam Centraal (€20, 40 min) + Metro D/E (€4.50, 10 min). By Train: Rotterdam Centraal (Thalys Amsterdam, 40 min, €15; NS from Utrecht, 30 min, €10); Metro D/E to Ahoy (€4.50, every 5 min). Public Transport: OV-chipkaart (€8/day) for metro/trams/buses; Line D/E direct (5-min walk). Bike: OV-fiets rentals (€4/day, 100+ stations). Parking: Ahoy P1/P2 (€15–20/day, 5,000 spots, pre-book via ahoy.nl); carpool via festival app. Eco-Tip: Electric metros or e-bikes (€3/hour) for zero-emission.

Accommodation Options

Book 3–6 months ahead for July peak. Budget: Stayokay Rotterdam (~$50/night, dorms near Centraal); Kings Hotel (~$70, basic, 15-min metro). Mid-Range: nhow Rotterdam (~$120, harbor views, breakfast). Boutique: Hotel Not Hotel (~$150, quirky, Witte de Withstraat). Splurge: Mainport Hotel (~$250, 5-star, spa). Apartments: Airbnb Delfshaven (~$100/night, kitchen). Via Booking.com; many include OV-chipkaart top-ups.