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Istanbul will turn into a citywide jazz stage this autumn as the Akbank Jazz Festival returns for its 36th edition, bringing together internationally acclaimed musicians, emerging European performers and leading artists from Türkiye’s jazz scene.
Organized by Akbank Sanat in collaboration with entertainment company BKM, the festival will run from Sept. 26 through Oct. 11, with more than 30 concerts and accompanying cultural events spread across the city.
The program will reflect Istanbul’s diverse cultural landscape by taking performances beyond conventional concert halls and into contemporary art spaces, a historic church and a French high school.
British keyboardist and composer Joe Armon-Jones will open the festival at Frankhan Selectist on Sept. 26, while Danae Palaka will perform at Yeldegirmeni Sanat on the same day. British drummer and singer Momoko Gill will follow at Yeldegirmeni Sanat on Sept. 27.
The program will move on to Salon IKSV on Sept. 29 with the Sarathy Korwar Drum Ensemble. French-Lebanese trombonist Robinson Khoury will bring his MYA project to Komunite the following day, while Turkish musicians Merve Salgar and Anil Eraslan will perform together as Velvele at the All Saints Moda Church.
October will begin with U.S. multi-instrumentalist Ben LaMar Gay at Ensemble Babylon and the Young European Stars project, led by German saxophonist Jakob Manz, at Komunite on Oct. 1.
Veteran Turkish jazz musician Emin Findikoglu will take the stage with his +12 orchestra at the Saint Benoit French High School on Oct. 2.
The following evening will bring together two prominent international performances, with American saxophonist James Carter presenting his Piano Quartet at Zorlu PSM and Cochemea Gastelum appearing at Salon IKSV.
Turkish vocalist Sibel Kose will present “A Jazz Bridge from the Vistula to the Bosphorus” at Akatlar Cultural Center on Oct. 4, highlighting musical connections between Poland and Türkiye. L’Antidote will also perform at Arter’s Karbon venue that evening.
Tunisian oud player and vocalist Dhafer Youssef, whose work brings jazz together with Arabic musical traditions and spiritual influences, will perform at Zorlu PSM on Oct. 7. British singer-songwriter Yazmin Lacey will appear at Babylon on the same night.
Ten-time Grammy-winning Cuban-American trumpeter Arturo Sandoval will take the stage at Zorlu PSM on Oct. 8, while vibraphonist Sasha Berliner will perform at the Borusan Music House.
Drummer, producer and rapper Kassa Overall will headline Babylon on Oct. 9, followed by Grammy-winning vocalist and pianist Nicole Zuraitis at Zorlu PSM on Oct. 10.
The festival will wrap up on Oct. 11 with British jazz ensemble Kinkajous at Arter Karbon.
The final evening will also feature “Primavera en Salonico” at Zorlu PSM, bringing Greek vocalist Savina Yannatou together with Lamia Bedioui.
Tickets for the 36th Akbank Jazz Festival are available through Biletix.
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