In 2011, UNESCO proclaimed 30 April as "International Jazz Day". UNESCO's aim was to give voice to the message of dialogue and freedom, so the day was created in recognition that jazz brings people together to reinforce respect for the shared values, universal messages of peace, freedom and solidarity that jazz conveys.
International Jazz Day was launched by UNESCO to raise awareness of the virtues of jazz as an educational tool, as a vehicle for peace, unity, dialogue and to enhance cooperation between peoples. Born in the United States and rooted in African traditions, jazz has taken new forms in cultures around the world. Jazz harnesses the world's diversity, effortlessly crossing borders and bringing people and cultures closer together. Harnessing cultural diversity is a task we all share. Let us not forget that jazz resonates joyfully as a force for peace, speaking to the heart.
Let's celebrate 12 years of International Jazz Day together by immersing ourselves in the most relevant stories of this decade!
2023
International Jazz Day 2023 was celebrated in 195 countries through jazz performances, educational programs and community outreach initiatives. The 12th anniversary culminated in a virtual All-Star Global Concert, produced by UNESCO and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz. The concert featured diverse voices and rhythms from 13 cities, including Beijing, China; Beirut, Lebanon; Casablanca, Morocco; Johannesburg, South Africa; Marondera, Zimbabwe; Paris, France; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Vienna, Austria; and Fairbanks, Honolulu, New York, San Francisco and Washington, DC, the United States of America.
2022
The 11th edition of International Day was marked by an All-Star Global Concert at the UN General Assembly Hall in New York, the United States of America. The concert featured dozens of acclaimed artists affirming the importance of jazz as a means of achieving unity and peace. UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock served as Host and Artistic Director and pianist John Beasley as Musical Director.
UNESCO also partnered with Anya Music (Morocco) for JazzWomenAfrica, a virtual concert honoring women Jazz artists throughout the African continent. In partnership with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the concert was distributed by its members and was promoted through its broadcasting unions in Africa and other regions of the world.
JazzWomenAfrica
Behind the scenes
2021
#JazzDay10
The tenth anniversary of International Jazz Day was celebrated in 2021. That year's celebrations focused on the history of Namibian jazz.
To highlight the history of Namibian jazz, the film "Skymaster - Township Jazz from the Old Location" was screened. In addition, the International Jazz Day concert featured The Ugly Creatures, one of Namibia's oldest jazz bands, which celebrated its fifth anniversary that year.
2019
The global concert in Melbourne, Australia, featured more than 30 world-renowned artists, including Herbie Hancock, James Morrison, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Kurt Elling.
2018
The Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, participated in the main celebration of the 2018 International Jazz Day in the Global Host City Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation.
Director-General
to attend International Jazz Day All-Star Global Concert in Saint Petersburg
UNESCO's former Director-General Irina Bokova opened the International Jazz Day celebrations in Havana.
The 6th edition of the International Jazz day, organised in close cooperation with the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, brought together renowned artists representing 14 countries - Herbie Hancock, Chucho Valdes, Marcus Miller, to mention but a few, and was moderated by movie star Will Smith.
While classical music is like a photograph of a clear mountain stream, Jazz is the stream.
2016
Washington, D.C. was the host city for the International Jazz Day 2016.
The White House (United States) hosted the 5th anniversary of International Jazz Day with the "2016 All-Star Global Concert" on 29 April, 2016, featuring internationally renowned jazz artists.
UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock participated in the concert accompanying Sting and leading a memorial tribute to Prince. The concert was streamed across the United States, as well as by the United Nations and UNESCO.
2015
UNESCO's former Director-General recalled that UNESCO created International Jazz Day in 2011 to honor one of the most ground-breaking cultural expressions of the 20th century.
Jazz crosses all borders and links all generations.
The United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) issued postage stamps and a souvenir card to celebrate International Jazz Day on April 30, 2014. The stamps, with three mini-sheets of twelve stamps, were designed by Sergio Baradat (United Nations).
2013
Marcus Miller was designated UNESCO Artist for Peace on 4 July 2013 in recognition of his commitment to raise international awareness about the ability of jazz to serve as a tool for peace, dialogue and cooperation between people.
Jazzman Marcus Miller named UNESCO Artist for Peace
In 2011 UNESCO proclaimed 30 April as “International Jazz Day”.
