The International Jazz Festival will make Hanoi autumn come alive

Vietnam Net International (VNA/VNI) Hanoi to host international jazz festival in September

The Hanoi International Jazz Festival 2026 will take place in the capital from September 17 to 19, bringing together five to eight foreign groups and three to five renowned Vietnamese groups.

Themed “Jazz Hanoi – Melody without Borders,” the event is part of Hanoi’s roadmap as a Creative City in the UNESCO network and reflects the capital’s ambition to make this festival a distinctive cultural brand while enhancing its position on the international music scene.

According to the municipal People’s Committee, the festival aims to strengthen Hanoi’s role as a major jazz hub in Vietnam, bringing together artists, scholars, and professional training institutions, and creating a platform for artistic exchanges and new creations.

One of the festival’s main goals will be to promote “Vietnamese jazz,” a fusion of contemporary jazz language and traditional Vietnamese musical materials.

Beyond musical performances, the event is also expected to contribute to sustainable socio-economic development through culture and creative industries. Authorities hope that the festival will help promote the image of a dynamic and modern Hanoi deeply rooted in its cultural heritage.

The Hanoi International Jazz Festival 2026 will kick off with a press conference during the first week of September.

Highlights will include an exhibition “Jazz and Street” and a workshop titled “The language of jazz in traditional music,” creating a space for international artists and Vietnamese experts to discuss the blend of jazz and traditional music.

The highlight of the first day will be the festival’s opening ceremony, scheduled for September 17 at 8 p.m. at the Hanoi Opera House, featuring performances by leading national and international artists.

On September 18, under the theme “Dialogue,” the festival will host an international symposium titled “Hanoi and jazz,” a concert titled “Jazz – Beloved Winter,” and a “Jazz Jam Session.”

The awards ceremony and closing ceremony will take place on September 19. In addition, the public will be able to enjoy unique street jazz performances by young groups in the pedestrian zone around Hoan Kiem Lake.

Organizers expect that the series of activities proposed in these open spaces will attract between 1,000 and 4,000 participants each evening.

During the festival, organizers encourage unique and creative experiences such as fusion of jazz with traditional Vietnamese instruments including the dan bau (monochord), the sao truc (bamboo flute), traditional art forms like cheo (traditional theater) and cai luong (renovated theater), and electronic music, to affirm the distinct identity of Vietnamese jazz. – VNA/VNI