Press Release: Saratoga Jazz Festival Presented by GE Vernova Line-Up Revealed
February 5, 2026
SARATOGA JAZZ FESTIVAL
PRESENTED BY GE VERNOVA
LINE-UP REVEALED FEATURING
PATTI LABELLE, THE REVIVALISTS, DIANNE REEVES, CHRISTONE “KINGFISH” INGRAM, MILES ELECTRIC BAND, CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT, THE DIP, GONZALO RUBALCABA FIRST MEETING QUARTET, CIMAFUNK, TERRI LYNE CARRINGTON, LAKECIA BENJAMIN, and more
SAT, JUNE 27 & SUN, JUNE 28, 2026
Saratoga Springs, NY (February 5, 2026) – The 49th Annual Saratoga Jazz Festival, presented by GE Vernova, will return for a full two-day and two-stage weekend experience on Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, June 28 at Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Featuring a roster of 22 musical groups and 13 festival debuts, the 2026 line-up is headlined by R&B legend Patti LaBelle and multi-platinum, New Orleans rock collective The Revivalists. The festival brings together a dynamic mix of genre-defying artists including blues guitar virtuoso Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Afro-Cuban funk phenomenon Cimafunk, and hip, soul-inflected rhythm and blues band The Dip. Also featured are jazz powerhouse vocalists Dianne Reeves and Cécile McLorin Salvant, contemporary and cutting-edge jazz leaders Terri Lyne Carrington and Lakecia Benjamin, and Cuban piano master Gonzalo Rubalcaba with his First Meeting Quartet featuring Chris Potter, Larry Grenadier and Eric Harland.
The festival will also mark two major musical milestones with special centennial celebrations, including the SPAC debut of Miles Electric Band: Celebrating Miles Davis’s Centennial, and the return of the Skidmore Jazz Institute Faculty All-Stars on the Discovery Stage celebrating the centennial of John Coltrane. From jazz to roots, funk, blues, rock, indie and beyond, Saratoga Jazz Festival continues its tradition of presenting world-class artists and ensembles in the unparalleled setting of SPAC’s exquisite grounds.
“As we approach nearly 50 years of this storied festival, we remain committed to presenting a vibrant, wide-ranging line-up that honors jazz traditions while amplifying bold new voices,” says Elizabeth Sobol, Chief Executive Officer of Saratoga Performing Arts Center. “From legendary performers and centennial celebrations to festival debuts and cutting-edge artists, this year’s Saratoga Jazz Festival offers so much to discover. We are also thrilled to continue our incredible partnership with GE Vernova, whose support helps ensure the festival’s continued vitality.”
“From Patti LaBelle to The Revivalists, and from Dianne Reeves to ‘Kingfish,’ this year’s line-up captures 49 years of presenting iconic artists alongside the next generation,” says Danny Melnick, Festival Producer and President of Absolutely Live Entertainment. “That mix of legacy and discovery is the heart of the Saratoga Jazz Festival.”
Making her long-awaited festival return to headline Saturday is Patti LaBelle, the Philadelphia-born “Godmother of Soul,” whose resplendent voice has left an indelible mark on music for more than six decades. Celebrating her 80th birthday and over 65 years in entertainment, LaBelle will bring her powerhouse vocals and timeless elegance to SPAC, performing beloved hits spanning her career—from her early days with The Bluebelles to her iconic solo catalog, including “Lady Marmalade,” “If Only You Knew,” “On My Own,” and more. A living legend across music, film, television, publishing and entrepreneurship, LaBelle’s appearance promises an unforgettable celebration of soul, resilience and artistry.
Headlining the festival on Sunday is The Revivalists, the eight-piece New Orleans rock ’n’ roll collective known for their triple-platinum hit “Wish I Knew You,” sold-out shows at Radio City Music Hall and Red Rocks Amphitheater, national television appearances, and more than 800 million streams. Bringing infectious energy and broad appeal, the band delivers a fusion of rock, R&B, funk, and soul that has made them one of the most dynamic acts on the national stage, making their Saratoga Jazz Festival debut a can’t-miss performance.
Roots, blues, funk, and soul artists bring additional layers of energy and groove, including GRAMMY-winning blues guitarist Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Cimafunk, following his electrifying festival appearance in 2024, with his energetic blend of Afro-Cuban funk, Latin rock, and contemporary beats, vintage soul revivalists The Dip, electrifying blues guitarist Ana Popovic, rising rock-and-blues artist Eddie 9V, and NYC-based, New Orleans-inspired brass ensemble Brass Queens.
Acclaimed jazz vocalists taking the stage include five-time GRAMMY winner and 2018 NEA Jazz Master Dianne Reeves, renowned for her powerful and emotive performances; Cécile McLorin Salvant, a three-time GRAMMY winner hailed by The New York Times as “the finest jazz singer to emerge in the last decade;” rising star Tyreek McDole, widely praised as a defining new voice in jazz; and singer-songwriter Sasha Dobson, known for her work across jazz and folk traditions.
The festival will also mark two major musical milestones with special centennial celebrations, highlighted by Miles Electric Band: Celebrating Miles Davis’s Centennial (MEB). Founded by Emmy- and GRAMMY-winning drummer Vince Wilburn Jr., nephew of Miles Davis and a member of his later ensembles, MEB honors both Davis’s groundbreaking electric period and his 100th birthday as part of a global celebration of concerts, exhibitions, and storytelling. Performing alongside Wilburn are Miles alumni Darryl Jones, long-time bassist for The Rolling Stones, and Robert Irving III, Davis’s musical director and keyboardist. Joining them is trumpeter Keyon Harrold who was a featured artist last year and also performed the soundtrack for the biopic Miles Ahead, as well as Jean-Paul Bourelly, Munyungo Jackson, Antoine Roney, and other outstanding artists whose work spans jazz, rock, and global traditions, delivering a rare opportunity to experience a direct lineage from Davis’s electric era.
The Skidmore Jazz Institute Faculty All-Stars will also return to the Discovery Stage to celebrate the centennial of legendary saxophonist John Coltrane, whose influence continues to shape jazz and modern music today.
Contemporary and cutting-edge jazz is represented by visionary artists including GRAMMY-winning drummer and composer Terri Lyne Carrington with her band Social Science, saxophonist and genre-blending innovator Lakecia Benjamin, charismatic trumpeter Avishai Cohen with his exuberant, home-grown band Big Vicious, pianist powerhouse Orrin Evans with his trio, rising saxophone star Alexa Tarantino and her quartet, and guitar virtuoso Bill Frisell with Thomas Morgan and Rudy Royston, with special guest Gregory Tardy, marking Frisell’s festival debut.
“The Jazz Festival continues to be a cornerstone of this community, a historic event that ties together the best of music, art, culture and creativity. We are proud to play a role in supporting an institution that does so much and which reflects the ideals we work to embrace as a company every day, including community partnership, the value of collaboration, and the belief that lasting impact starts locally,” says GE Vernova CEO Scott Strazik.
In addition to two non-stop days of great music on two stages, fans can also enjoy a host of amenities including new and diverse food offerings, a fine arts and crafts fair, and artist merchandise signings. Guests are welcome to bring in their own food and beverages, as well as lawn chairs, blankets, tents and lawn umbrellas. Parking for the event is free. Performances will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 27 and at 11:45 a.m. on Sunday, June 28.
Tickets go on sale beginning on February 6 at 10 a.m. to SPAC members (tiered by level) and on February 13 at 10 a.m. to the general public. Visit spac.org for more details.
2026 SARATOGA JAZZ FESTIVAL LINE-UP:
SATURDAY, JUNE 27
Amphitheater:
Patti LaBelle
Miles Electric Band: Celebrating Miles Davis’s Centennial
Cécile McLorin Salvant
The Dip
Gonzalo Rubalcaba First Meeting Quartet with Chris Potter, Larry Grenadier & Eric Harland
Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science
Charles R. Wood “Discovery” Stage:
Bill Frisell Trio featuring Thomas Morgan & Rudy Royston with special guest Gregory Tardy
Orrin Evans Trio featuring Luques Curtis & Mark Whitfield, Jr.
Tyreek McDole
Ana Popovic
Avishai Cohen Big Vicious
Brass Queens
SUNDAY, JUNE 28
Amphitheater:
The Revivalists
Dianne Reeves
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Cimafunk
Lakecia Benjamin
Charles R. Wood “Discovery” Stage:
Eddie 9V
Alexa Tarantino Quartet
Kyle Roussel
Sasha Dobson
Skidmore Jazz Institute Faculty All-Stars Celebrate John Coltrane’s Centennial featuring Jimmy Greene, Clay Jenkins, Steve Davis, Dave Stryker, Miki Yamanaka, Todd Coolman & Quincy Davis
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ABOUT SARATOGA JAZZ FESTIVAL:
Founded in 1978 by jazz impresario George Wein, Saratoga Jazz Festival is the fifth longest-consecutive-running jazz festival in North America. Initially founded as “the Newport Jazz Festival at Saratoga” the weekend event was renamed Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival in 1998 and Saratoga Jazz Festival, presented by GE Vernova in 2025. With an inside seating capacity of 5,200, and lawn seating of 20,000, the two-day, two-stage festival continues to be one of the largest jazz music events in North America, beloved by audiences for both the remarkable annual line-up of international jazz talent and the spectacular setting at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in the idyllic Saratoga Spa State Park.
More information about what to bring to the Jazz Festival can be found online at www.spac.org.
TICKETS:
Tickets for the festival start at $89 and will be available online at www.spac.org beginning Friday, February 13 at 10am to the general public and starting on Friday, February 6 at 10am to SPAC members (tiered by level). Members will also receive a discount of 15-20% (depending on level) on their ticket purchase. Two-day passes are also available. Children 12 and under receive 50% off tickets in the amphitheater and are free on the lawn. Full-time students with a school issued ID receive 25% off tickets in the amphitheater (excluding price levels 1-2), or $25 on the lawn (student ID must be presented at will call).
Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), located in the historic resort town of Saratoga Springs in upstate New York, is one of America’s most prestigious outdoor amphitheaters. Its exquisite setting in a 2,400-acre park preserve surrounded by hiking trails, geysers, and natural mineral springs draws lovers of arts, culture and nature for performances by resident companies New York City Ballet, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Saratoga Jazz Festival, and concerts by Live Nation. SPAC also hosts imaginative programming such as Caffè Lena @ SPAC and initiatives in culinary, literary, healing and visual arts.
SPAC is a 501c3 charitable organization. Donations and proceeds from fundraising events benefit the Center’s thriving education program, community outreach efforts, and the vibrancy of its programming. For more information visit spac.org.
About GE Vernova
GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE: GEV) is a purpose-built global energy company that includes Power, Wind, and Electrification segments and is supported by its accelerator businesses. Building on over 130 years of experience tackling the world’s challenges, GE Vernova is uniquely positioned to help lead the energy transition by continuing to electrify the world while simultaneously working to decarbonize it. GE Vernova helps customers power economies and deliver electricity that is vital to health, safety, security, and improved quality of life. GE Vernova is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., with approximately 75,000 employees across 100+ countries around the world. Supported by the Company’s purpose, The Energy to Change the World, GE Vernova technology helps deliver a more affordable, reliable, sustainable, and secure energy future. Learn more: GE Vernova and LinkedIn.