Happy International Jazz Day on April 30!
30.4.2026 @ 08:00 - 23:30
In 2011, UNESCO designated April 30 as International Jazz Day, and since then, jazz as an art form has been officially recognised as a promoter of peace, intercultural dialogue, diversity, and respect for human rights and human dignity.
The Finnish Jazz Federation’s Jazz Day campaign features, in 2026, vocalist Emilia Sisco and saxophonist and flautist Juhani “Junnu” Aaltonen as its national ambassadors.
“Jazz holds immense diversity and uniqueness. It is exploration. It is dialogue. It is freedom and emotion,” Sisco describes the essence of jazz.
“Jazz is a cry for freedom!” Aaltonen sums up.
Let Jazz Day resound!
International Jazz Day – Kansainvälinen jazzpäivä
In November 2011, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) designated April 30 as International Jazz Day to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role in uniting people around the world. For 15 years, jazz has been recognised as an art form that promotes peace, intercultural dialogue, diversity, and respect for human rights and human dignity.
International Jazz Day brings together musicians, audiences, researchers, and communities around the globe to learn about jazz’s roots and to celebrate its future.
The global project for International Jazz Day is led by legendary jazz pianist and composer Herbie Hancock, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue and Chairman of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz.
Photos: Emilia Cisco: Kai Kuusisto and Juhani Aaltonen: Maarit Kytöharju
