Hanoi Jazztival 2026: Building an International Music Festival with a distinctive Hanoi identity
WVR - On the evening of September 17, the opening night of the Hanoi International Jazz Festival 2026 – Hanoi Jazztival 2026 took place at the Music Garden - Hanoi Opera House.
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| Central and Hanoi City leaders present flowers to the participating artists. (Photo: Hoang Lan) |
Attending the program were Politburo Member, Secretary of the City Party Committee, Head of the Hanoi City National Assembly Deputies Tran Duc Thang; Party Central Committee Secretary, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra; Party Central Committee Member, Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Information and Education, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association Le Quoc Minh.
Also in attendance were Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong; Member of the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee, Standing Vice Chairman of the Hanoi City People's Council Tran The Cuong; Vice Chairman of the Hanoi City People's Committee Vu Thu Ha; representatives of Hanoi's departments and international guests.
The event was directed by the Hanoi City People's Committee; led by the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism; and organized by the Thang Long Music and Dance Theater.
In her opening remarks, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi City People's Committee Vu Thu Ha stressed that with the cultural development orientation of the capital “Civilization - Identity - Creativity - Integration - Connection”, closely linking the preservation and promotion of cultural values, harmoniously combining tradition and modernity, Hanoi is focusing on building cultural products with a distinct identity. Hanoi is gradually affirming its position as a creative hub, contributing cultural and artistic programs and events of regional and international significance.
According to the Vice Chairman of the city, recently, Hanoi has implemented many music projects serving the community, creating conditions for a wide audience and music lovers to access and enjoy art in unique cultural spaces. Community music programs organized by theaters and art units have attracted widespread public participation and enthusiasm.
Building on these successes, the Hanoi International Jazz Festival 2026 (Hanoi Jazztival 2026) takes place over three days (from September 17 to 19) at many of Hanoi's iconic cultural spaces. This expands public access, bringing Jazz closer to urban life.
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| Artist Quyen Van Minh and the Red River Jazz Band perform at the opening program. (Photo: Hoang Lan) |
With the theme “Hanoi Jazz - Melodies Without Borders”, the event gathers domestic and international artists, offering a series of unique performances, exhibitions, and discussions to affirm Hanoi's position in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
The festival features many attractive performances and exhibitions such as: the “Jazz & Streets” exhibition at the Thang Long Music and Dance Theater, the “Woman in Jazz” program at the Vietnam Women's Museum on September 17.
On September 18, the festival includes activities: the international discussion “Hanoi and Jazz”; the workshop “Jazz Language in Traditional Music”; the Jam Jazz Session program at Thang Long Opera Hotel; the “Jazz Without Borders” performance at the Music Garden of the Hanoi Opera House and the Night Jam Jazz at Club activities at Jazz clubs.
On September 19, Jazz continues to spread to public spaces with the Street Jazz series on the Hoan Kiem Lake pedestrian street.
The “Jazz and Heritage” program at the Cultural and Artistic Center will offer a new approach by placing Jazz in the intersection with the heritage space of Hanoi's Old Quarter. Closing Hanoi Jazztival 2026 will be the Hanoi Jazz Festival 2026 Gala at the Octagonal House.
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| The opening night of the Hanoi International Jazz Festival 2026 - Hanoi Jazztival 2026 attracted public interest. (Photo: Phi Khanh) |
The Hanoi International Jazz Festival features the participation of many renowned artists and bands from Vietnam, the United States, France, Republic of Korea, Japan, and many other countries.
| “Taking place from September 17 to 19, Hanoi Jazztival 2026 is an international cultural and artistic event intended to be organized annually by the capital, contributing to the implementation of the capital's cultural industry development strategy, concretizing Hanoi's commitment in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, and gradually forming an international music festival with Hanoi's unique identity.” |
Not only limited to performances, the festival focuses on building a Jazz activity ecosystem, from professional exchanges, workshops, music practice, artist interactions to community outreach programs and expanding Jazz enjoyment spaces. Through this, Hanoi Jazztival facilitates the formation and development of connections, initiatives, and artistic collaborations beyond the festival.
According to the Organizing Committee, one of the important directions of Hanoi Jazztival is to bring Jazz closer to the public, especially the residents of the capital.
All events at Hanoi Jazztival 2026 are open and free, providing opportunities for a wide audience, tourists, and those who have never experienced Jazz to directly enjoy, explore, and experience. Not only does it contribute to forming a Jazz-loving community in Hanoi, but the festival also creates an open cultural atmosphere, where music becomes a bridge between artists, locals, and international visitors.
