After three intense weeks and nearly sixty concerts, the musical event wrapped up last weekend with figures that reaffirm its consolidation. The organizers highlighted the increase in attendance, especially for parallel activities and outdoor events.
The Nova Jazz Cava, the hub for the most prestigious national and international performances, hosted nearly 3,000 attendees, a figure similar to the 2,956 from the previous year. Morning events in Terrassa, Matadepera, Viladecavalls, and Vacarisses, along with the large Pícnic Jazz day, gathered around 32,500 followers. Additionally, parallel activities with associative and cultural entities attracted 1,100 people.
The determined commitment to new voices and emerging languages, providing space for projects that explore new creative and sonic paths.
The festival's management emphasized its strong commitment to innovation, showcasing projects that explore new sounds. Notable concerts included performances by Ches Smith Clone Row, Dave Douglas Quartet, and Jon Irabagon’s Rising Sun Quartet. The duo of Dave Holland and Lionel Loueke, and the Bluestorius project by Carles Benavent and Felix Pastorius, were also highly acclaimed.
Several performances sold out, including Bluestorius and the inaugural concert by young Catalan artists Oriol Vallès & Irene Reig Quintet. The Enric Fuster Quartet, winner of the first Step Jazz Award 2026, also participated. The emotional Guim Balasch Reunion, led by Jazzterrasman 2026, brought together thirteen musicians on stage. Jam sessions by Terrassa saxophonists Haizea Martiartu and Alba Ruiz, the debut of Italian pianist Francesca Tandoi Trio, and the blues night featuring the Toronzo Cannon Blues Band From Chicago completed a diverse program.
The outdoor morning events were a success, with highlights such as the Tòfol Martínez Blues Band (relocated to the Nova Jazz Cava due to weather), the trio Belén Bandera, Carla Motis, and Horacio Fumero at the National Museum of Science and Technology of Catalonia, and Adrià Font's New Old Cats Swing at Sant Jordi Park. The Pícnic Jazz at Vallparadís Park, held on Sunday, March 22, once again drew thousands of people in a festive and family-friendly atmosphere. The edition also featured exhibitions, talks, workshops, educational activities, and gastronomic proposals.
Jazz has once again revealed itself as a living, open, and constantly transforming language: a space of creative freedom that connects generations, fosters dialogue, and builds community.
The event organizers emphasized that 'jazz has once again revealed itself as a living, open, and constantly transforming language: a space of creative freedom that connects generations, fosters dialogue, and builds community'. The question 'What is jazz?', which adorned this year's poster, 'is not resolved, but continues to inspire'. The closing ceremony took place at the Nova Jazz Cava with a concert celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the Sant Andreu Jazz Band, recognized for its work in nurturing new talents.
