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The annual Detroit Jazz Festival is scheduled to return Labor Day weekend, Sept. 3-6. It is the largest free jazz festival in the world, featuring talented artists from all over. For nearly 40 years now, the festival has celebrated and showcased the rich history of Detroit jazz to more than 300,000 people annually.

The festival is traditionally held in person, but following the rise in COVID-19 cases, it will remain virtual this year. Performances will be streamed and broadcast live and free (with no replays or on-demand) from closed, indoor sound stages at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center in Downtown Detroit. They will also air on Detroit public radio and television, and stream across the festival’s social media channels and website, and on the DetroitJazzFest LIVE! app.

For $20, attendees or those unable to stream or listen to the performances live can replay the festival and access year-round shows and special events for up to one year on the app. Register for the app here.

Headliners for the 2021 festival include Dee Dee Bridgewater, the 2021 artist-in-residence, Herbie Hancock, Kenny Barron, Abdullah Ibrahim, Anat Cohen, Sean Jones, Kenny Garrett, and Gregory Porter.

Over 35 artists will join headliners and take to the stages over the long weekend. View the full lineup here.

Current Artist Lineup:

 Friday, Sept. 3

• 2021 Artist-in-Residence Dee Dee Bridgewater and the Woodshed Network Ladies
• Herbie Hancock

Saturday, Sept. 4

• Matthew Whitaker Quartet
• Kenny Barron
• Jerry Bergonzi Quintet
• Alicia Olatuja – “Intuition: Songs from the Minds of Women”
• Etienne Charles – Creole Soul
• David Binney Angeleno Quartet
• Omar Sosa and the Havana-Detroit Jazz Project
• Keyon Harrold presents Jazz and the Birth of Hip Hop with special guests “Elzhi,” Georgia Anne Muldrow, and Chris “Daddy” Dave
• The Summit: The Manhattan Transfer Meets Take 6
• Kurt Elling’s The Big Blind

Sunday, Sept. 5

• Michael Mayo
• Roberto Fonseca
• Dee Dee Bridgewater/Bill Charlap Duo
• Abdullah Ibrahim and the Detroit Jazz Festival Orchestra
• Anat Cohen Tentet
• Sean Jones: “DizzySpellz”
• Kenny Garrett
• Tribute to Dave Brubeck @100: Brubeck Brothers Quartet featuring Jerry Bergonzi, Detroit Jazz Festival Choir, and the Detroit Jazz Festival Orchestra
• Aziza featuring Dave Holland, Chris Potter, Lionel Loueke, and Eric Harland
• Gregory Porter

Monday, Sept. 6

• Abdullah Ibrahim: Ekaya
• Jimmy Green Quintet
• Eddie Daniels and Bob James: Exploring New Worlds
• Fly Higher: Charlie Parker @ 100
• Dee Dee Bridgewater Female Big Band

Download the 2021 event schedule here and stay updated with festival activities and events on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.