The Jazz Institute of Chicago, in partnership with the Chicago Park District, proudly presents the 2026 Chicago Latin Jazz Festival, a free, family-friendly celebration of Latin jazz, rhythm, and community. The two-night outdoor event will take place Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11, 2026, at the Humboldt Park Fieldhouse (1440 N. Humboldt Blvd., Chicago, IL 60647).
Audiences are invited to bring lawn chairs, picnic baskets, and coolers and enjoy an open-air musical experience in one of Chicago’s most historic and culturally rich neighborhoods. The Chicago Latin Jazz Festival celebrates the rich traditions and evolving sounds of Latin jazz while bringing together artists and audiences for two unforgettable summer evenings of live music.
The 2026 musical lineup features an exciting mix of acclaimed performers whose work reflects the global influences and cultural traditions that define Latin jazz today. The festival opens on Friday, July 10, with the Richard Peña Trio at 6:00 PM. A Puerto Rican guitarist, composer, and educator, Peña is recognized for blending Afro-Caribbean traditions with modern jazz innovation, creating a sound that honors tradition while pushing the music forward.
At 7:30 PM, audiences will experience Zaccai Curtis Cubop Lives!!, led by 2025 Grammy Award-winning pianist and composer Zaccai Curtis. Curtis earned the Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album for Cubop Lives!, a project inspired by the historic fusion of Afro-Cuban jazz and bebop that helped shape the evolution of Latin jazz. Through original compositions and reimagined classics, Cubop Lives! celebrates the cultural and musical exchange that continues to influence jazz around the world.
The festival continues on Saturday, July 11, with a student performance by Oliver Y Su Orchestra at 4 PM. The student ensemble is part of the Jazz Institute of Chicago’s Emerging Artists Project, the culminating experience of the Jazz Links Student Council that gives young musicians the opportunity to form their own bands, develop their artistic identities, and gain firsthand experience performing throughout Chicago as emerging professionals.
At 5 PM, Raíces Latin Jazz Quintet takes the stage. Led by vibraphonist Joe Sonnefeldt, the ensemble pays homage to the pioneers of Latin jazz while bringing a distinctly Chicago perspective to the genre through original compositions and dynamic interpretations of classics by Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, and Paquito D’Rivera.
At 6:30 PM, Trabuco Salsa Band takes the stage, carrying forward a musical legacy rooted in Chicago’s Puerto Rican community and salsa tradition. Originally founded in 1969 by Jose E. Reyes Sr. in Humboldt Park and revitalized by his son, Jose E. Reyes Jr., the ensemble blends the energy of Chicago’s historic salsa scene with contemporary tropical music arrangements. Together, the group honors decades of cultural exchange between Chicago and Puerto Rico while introducing the next generation to the enduring power of salsa music.
All performances are free to the public and will take place at the Humboldt Park Fieldhouse.
“We’re creating a musical sanctuary where audiences can come together to experience the power of this music and the community it creates,” said Carlos Flores, Artistic Director of the Festival. “The Chicago Latin Jazz Festival gives people access to artists whose impact extends far beyond where they call home. We’re proud to present nationally and internationally recognized musicians not simply because they come from outside Chicago, but because of the extraordinary contributions they’ve made to the evolution of this music. At the same time, we’re creating space for emerging artists and neighborhood traditions to thrive, ensuring these sounds continue to inspire and connect people for generations to come.”
Heather Ireland Robinson, Executive Director of the Jazz Institute of Chicago, adds, “Following Chicago’s celebration of International Jazz Day earlier this year, the Chicago Latin Jazz Festival continues our commitment to bringing world-class jazz experiences into neighborhoods across the city. Through free, accessible events like this, we’re able to connect families, residents, and visitors to the rich cultural traditions that make Chicago one of the world’s great jazz cities.”
“Bringing jazz to Chicago’s parks citywide, free of charge, is something we’re proud to offer through our ongoing partnership with the Jazz Institute of Chicago,” said Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, General Superintendent and CEO, Chicago Park District. “Exceptional experiences like the Chicago Latin Jazz Festival reflect the cultural richness and diversity that define our city. Making high-quality, accessible programming like this available to the public not only strengthens our neighborhoods, it reinforces Chicago’s reputation as a cultural gem on the world stage.”
The Chicago Latin Jazz Festival is part of the Jazz Institute of Chicago’s mission to nurture and promote jazz in all its forms. Presented in collaboration with the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks initiative, events like this are made possible thanks to public support, sponsors, and donors who believe in the power of music to bring people together.
The Chicago Latin Jazz Festival’s presentation of Zaccai Curtis Cubop Lives! is supported through a Chamber Music America Presenter Consortium for Jazz grant awarded to the Jazz Institute of Chicago in collaboration with the Chicago Park District. A component of the Doris Duke Jazz Ensembles Project, Presenter Consortium for Jazz is funded by the Doris Duke Foundation.
About the Jazz Institute of Chicago
The Jazz Institute of Chicago is a nonprofit organization founded in 1969, dedicated to nurturing and promoting jazz through education, community engagement, artist support, and cultural preservation. JIC produces year-round programming across Chicago and offers 90% of its events and education initiatives free to the public.
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