French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (FQFI) proudly announces the 26th anniversary of Satchmo SummerFest, presented by the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Foundation (NOTCF). Founded in 2001 to commemorate the centennial of Louis Armstrong’s birth, the festival has grown into a beloved New Orleans tradition celebrating the life, legacy, and unmistakable sound of Satchmo. This year’s festival returns to the New Orleans Jazz Museum on Aug.1–2, 2026, featuring two days of live music across multiple stages, engaging discussions with renowned Armstrong scholars and a variety of cultural experiences that honor one of the city’s most iconic ambassadors. The festival is free and open to the public.
“Jazz was born in New Orleans, and this city is proof of what Louis Armstrong has given to the world,” said Emily Madero, President and CEO of French Quarter Festivals, Inc. “This year’s lineup showcases the living legacy of Armstrong’s influence, featuring artists who were inspired by his spirit of innovation and excellence.”
This year’s festival features debut performances from Sir Chantz Powell & The Sound Of Funk (S.O.F.), Jenna McSwain, and Linda Aubert, alongside beloved returning acts including Kermit Ruffins, John Boutté, The Original Pinettes Brass Band and Preservation Brass. Whether dancing outdoors under the tented stages or listening to intimate piano performances on the second floor of the Jazz Museum, attendees can expect a soundtrack as bold, joyful and unforgettable as Satchmo himself.
“Satchmo SummerFest has always been more than a festival. It is a celebration of where jazz comes from and the city that gave it to the world,” said Lisa Alexis, President of the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Foundation (NOTCF). “ Satchmo SummerFest enters its 26th year, we are proud to support an event that continues to bring world-class music to the streets of New Orleans, honor Armstrong’s extraordinary legacy, and energize our city during the summer season he loved most.”
A New Chapter for a New Orleans Tradition
Last year’s silver jubilee celebrated 25 years of honoring Louis Armstrong’s legacy. Now, the festival turns the page to its next chapter.
The 26th annual Satchmo SummerFest welcomes debut artists alongside familiar voices that have long defined the event, all performing at a newly renovated New Orleans Jazz Museum. As one of the city’s signature summer events, the festival also provides an economic boost to local businesses during one of New Orleans’ slower seasons.
Funded in part by the Herb Alpert Foundation and the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the museum has undergone significant upgrades, including a revamped performance center, enhanced outdoor spaces and improved visitor amenities, all befitting a festival built on the belief that jazz belongs to everyone.
French Quarter Festivals, Inc. remains committed to making New Orleans culture accessible to all. In keeping with that mission, festivalgoers receive free admission to the New Orleans Jazz Museum throughout the weekend, offering a chance to explore the museum’s exhibits, galleries and rich history at no cost.
Stories, Scholarship and the Legacy of Louis Armstrong: Satchmo Legacy Stage in Memory of Joni Berry
The festival returns with two days of unforgettable music celebrating the legacy of Louis Armstrong and the city that shaped him. Across the Delta Utilities Stage, Satchmo Legacy Stage in Memory of Joni Berry and the intimate Fidelity Bank Piano Sessions inside the New Orleans Jazz Museum, festivalgoers will experience the sounds that define New Orleans, from traditional jazz and brass bands to funk, R&B and contemporary interpretations of the city’s rich musical traditions.
Saturday’s lineup features Roots of Music, Preservation Brass, Troy Sawyer & The Elementz featuring Girls Play Trumpets Too, Joe Lastie’s Jazz to Brass, Hasizzle with TBC Brass Band, Charmaine Neville, Lawrence Cotton Legendary Experience, Jamil Sharif, Yusa, Assata Renay, Jenna McSwain and a special Tribute to Ma Rainey featuring Lars Edegran and Thais Clarke.
The celebration continues Sunday, Aug. 2, with the annual Jazz Mass at St. Augustine Church at 10 a.m. The service returns to the church’s main sanctuary for the first time since Hurricane Ida, marking a significant homecoming at one of New Orleans’ most treasured landmarks. Following Mass, the Satchmo Parade will make its way through Tremé, celebrating Armstrong’s ties to the neighborhood where his musical journey began.
Sunday’s lineup includes Kermit Ruffins’ Tribute to Louis Armstrong, John Boutté, The Original Pinettes Brass Band, Treme Brass Band, Big 6 Brass Band, Don Vappie and JAZZ CREOLE, Kid Merv & All That Jazz, Sir Chantz Powell & The Sound Of Funk (S.O.F.), The Nayo Jones Experience, Mari Watanabe & Chosen Few featuring Kevin Louis & Will Smith, Juice, Linda Aubert, Tom Worrall and John Royen & Tim Laughlin.
Stories, Scholarship and the Legacy of Louis Armstrong: Satchmo Legacy Stage in Memory of Joni Berry
Presented with support from The Joseph K. & Inez Eichenbaum Foundation and the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, the Satchmo Legacy Stage in Memory of Joni Berry is dedicated to exploring the life, music and impact of Louis Armstrong through conversations, scholarship and storytelling.
This year’s lecture series features renowned historians, authors, archivists and artists examining Armstrong’s influence from New Orleans to the global stage. Highlights include Dr. Robert Mikell’s look at Armstrong’s role in popularizing jazz across six continents; Charanya Ramakrishnan’s collection of personal stories from neighbors who knew Louis and Lucille Armstrong in Corona, Queens; and Jon Pult’s exploration of Armstrong’s radio career.
Lisa La Touche examines the intersection of tap dance and Armstrong’s artistry through archival research and live performance, while Ricky Riccardi presents multiple sessions, including a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Hot Five recordings and a retrospective on Armstrong’s historic 1956 visit to Ghana. Festival favorites David Sager, Scott Wenzel and Riccardi also offer a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Mosaic Records’ upcoming Complete Louis in New York Sessions 1924–1925 collection.
Additional presentations include Sharone Carmona’s exploration of Armstrong’s lifelong love of film and James Karst’s newly uncovered research on jazz pioneer Buddy Bolden. Together, these sessions invite festivalgoers to deepen their understanding of Armstrong’s remarkable legacy and lasting influence on music and culture.
Made Possible by Our Sponsors and Partners
For over 40 years, French Quarter Festivals, Inc. has been proud to provide high-quality community events that are accessible to all. Programming is made possible by sponsorships and donations from community members, and supported by on-site beverage and merchandise sales. Sponsors for Satchmo Summerfest include:
New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Foundation (NOTCF), New Orleans & Company, Delta Utilities, Friend of Fest, New Orleans Jazz Museum, Joseph K. & Inez Eichenbaum Foundation, LCMC Health, Omni Royal Orleans, WWL-Louisiana, Fidelity Bank, Abita Brewing Company, French Market District, JAX Brewery Parking Lots and The Berger Company, Music Performance Trust Fund and American Federation of Musicians Local 174-496, The Helis Foundation, Pepsi, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, Caymus Vineyards, Sea Sun Wines, Conundrum Wine, Danny & Alana Wolfe, Upbeat Vodka & Upbeat Vodka Cocktails, Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, Renaissance Publishing, Nola.com, Clarion Herald,WWOZ, WWNO, and WGSO
