Summer of the Arts announces dates, headliner for 2026 Iowa City Jazz Festival

IOWA CITY — Summer of the Arts has announced the dates and headliner for the 2026 Iowa City Jazz Festival.

The free festival is slated for July 3-5, 2026, in downtown Iowa City. Award-winning headliner ARTEMIS, featuring Renee Rosnes, Ingrid Jensen, Nicole Glover, Noriko Ueda and Allison Miller, will perform on the Strauss Community Main Stage at 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, 2026.

ARTEMIS is a powerhouse jazz quintet that has taken the jazz world by storm. Founded by renowned pianist and composer Rosnes, ARTEMIS brings together five instrumental virtuosos: Rosnes on piano, Jensen on trumpet, Glover on saxophone, Ueda on base and Miller on drums.

The group has won Jazz Group of the Year in the Downbeat Readers Poll for two consecutive years (2023 and 2024), and their performances have earned widespread acclaim. NPR praised them as "a killer line-up of players, composers and performers … who converge on an extremely cosmopolitan, sleek, rhythm-forward, modern sound."

The band will be touring in support of their third Blue Note Records album "Arboresque," released in February 2025.

The weekend will showcase a diverse lineup of well-known jazz musicians alongside emerging talent. In addition to music, attendees can browse artist and organization booths, sample food and enjoy the festival's lively beverage garden.

The complete 2026 festival schedule, including additional performers and stage times, will be announced in early spring 2026.

"The Iowa City Jazz Festival creates a welcoming space for jazz music of all ages," said Lisa Barnes, executive director of Summer of the Arts. "Whether you're a longtime fan or new to jazz, this festival offers something special for everyone."