Abu Dhabi to Host Global Celebrations for International Jazz Day 2025

Global festivities for International Jazz Day 2025 will culminate in Abu Dhabi, recognized as a UNESCO Creative City of Music. Scheduled for April 30, the event will take place in over 190 countries, with Abu Dhabi serving as the designated global host city.

This significant occasion, organized by UNESCO in collaboration with the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, promises a variety of concerts, educational programs, and cultural initiatives. The Director-General of UNESCO emphasized the importance of celebrating this day in Abu Dhabi, highlighting the city's rich creativity and cultural heritage, as well as jazz's powerful role in fostering community, dialogue, and peace across continents.

Abu Dhabi is set to become a vibrant hub of activity, featuring a five-week series of jazz performances, educational programs, and community events. The centerpiece will be the International Jazz Day 2025 All-Star Global Concert, hosted at the Etihad Arena on April 30, which is the region's largest indoor venue.

Herbie Hancock, a renowned pianist, will lead the concert, which will be moderated by Oscar-winning actor Jeremy Irons. The concert will feature an impressive lineup of artists from diverse musical backgrounds, including Arqam Al Abri (UAE), John Beasley (USA), Dee Dee Bridgewater (USA), and many others from across the globe. Additional performers will be announced in the upcoming weeks.

Hancock noted that jazz has always been about bringing people together and transcending boundaries, underlining the genre's ability to promote dialogue and inspire hope. Tickets for the concert will be available through various platforms, with the event also set to be streamed live via UNTV, UNESCO, jazzday.com, Facebook, YouTube, and other media partners.

International Jazz Day will see thousands of events taking place worldwide, with artists, educators, and institutions hosting masterclasses, jam sessions, panel discussions, and workshops that reflect jazz's profound impact as a unifying force.

The month-long celebrations in Abu Dhabi will unfold across significant cultural and educational venues, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Berklee Abu Dhabi, and NYU Abu Dhabi. Special performances will highlight the integration of jazz with traditional instruments such as the Oud, Qanoon, and Ney.

This year's International Jazz Day coincides with the Abu Dhabi Cultural Summit, an annual gathering that unites leaders from the cultural and creative sectors for discussions featuring Hancock and other notable artists.

The event is significantly supported by the Doris Duke Foundation and United Airlines, the Global Airline Partner for International Jazz Day.

International Jazz Day, launched by UNESCO in 2011 and recognized by the United Nations General Assembly, aims to unite countries and communities on April 30 each year. This annual event underscores jazz's power while promoting peace, cultural dialogue, diversity, and respect for human dignity, reaching over 2 billion people globally. The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz oversees the implementation of International Jazz Day.

For further details and event registration, visit www.jazzday.com or www.unesco.org/en/international-jazz-day.