International Jazz Day Alba
Edition 2026 Music Jazz Blues

International Jazz Day Alba

World Jazz Day in the squares of Alba

Alba — Cuneo (004) Since 2013
Dates 30 Apr — 30 Apr 2026
Location Alba (004)
Prices Free
Status Finished

About Jazz Day Alba

Every April 30th, Alba celebrates International Jazz Day, the global event established by UNESCO. For one full day, the historic center of the Langhe capital transforms into an open-air stage: acoustic concerts in the squares, roaming street bands through the alleys, and a grand evening concert in Piazza Duomo. All events are free, under the artistic direction of Filippo Cosentino.

Jazz takes center stage in the heart of the Langhe

Every April 30th, the city of Alba, located in the heart of the Cuneo province and the capital of the Langhe, joins the International Jazz Day, the global jazz celebration proclaimed by UNESCO in 2011 to honor this musical language as a bridge between cultures and peoples. For over a decade, the Alba event has become a consolidated tradition, bringing improvised music out of the clubs and into the squares for everyone to enjoy.

A city-wide celebration

The formula is well-established: the afternoon kicks off with acoustic concerts and roaming sets that bring Piazza Ferrero, Piazza Garibaldi, and the historic center to life, while the evening converges in Piazza Duomo for the main concert. Street bands turn the alleys and arcades into a musical journey filled with swing, New Orleans vibes, dance, and improvisation, engaging passersby, residents, and tourists in a festive atmosphere.

Artistic direction and organization

The festival is curated by guitarist and artistic director Filippo Cosentino with his Dragonfly Music Studio, under the patronage of the City of Alba and supported by local entities such as the Fondazione CRC and Banca d'Alba. In recent years, the event has also linked up with the UNESCO Creative Cities network, broadening its reach beyond the borders of Piedmont.

Why it's worth attending

The International Jazz Day in Alba is the perfect opportunity to discover the city of white truffles and great wines in an unexpected light: a vibrant historic center, free admission to every concert, and a program that alternates between young talents, original ensembles, and tributes to the jazz masters. A spring appointment that weaves together quality music and local identity.

Jazz Day Alba — edition 2026

La 14ª edizione dell'International Jazz Day di Alba, giovedì 30 aprile 2026, ha proposto una giornata di concerti gratuiti tra le piazze del centro storico, culminata in Piazza Duomo con il tributo a Jelly Roll Morton del quintetto guidato da Helga Plankensteiner.

La 14ª edizione dell'International Jazz Day di Alba si è svolta giovedì 30 aprile 2026, confermando la formula della giornata diffusa nelle piazze del centro storico. Dal pomeriggio fino al gran concerto serale, la città delle Langhe ha celebrato la giornata mondiale del jazz UNESCO con ingresso libero a tutti gli appuntamenti. L'edizione 2026 si è svolta in collaborazione con la rete delle Città Creative UNESCO, grazie al legame instaurato con la Città di Bolzano.

Programme Jazz Day Alba 2026

Giovedì 30 aprile 2026

  • 15:30 — Piazza Ferrero: Francesco Rainero in solo acustico, con brani dall'album "Ti cerco nel mondo" e cover d'autore.
  • 16:45 — Piazza Garibaldi e centro storico: Prismabanda, street band di Vernante (CN), in un percorso itinerante fatto di musica, danza e acrobazie attraverso i vicoli fino a Piazza Duomo.
  • 20:30 — Piazza Duomo: Jelly Roll Plays Morton, quintetto tributo a Jelly Roll Morton ideato da Helga Plankensteiner. Formazione con Helga Plankensteiner (sax baritono e voce), Achille Succi (clarinetto basso), Glauco Benedetti (tuba), Michael Lösch (piano, Rhodes e toy piano) e Marco Soldà (batteria).

In caso di maltempo i concerti si sarebbero tenuti nella Sala Riolfo.

Highlights Jazz Day Alba 2026

Il concerto serale in Piazza Duomo con il quintetto Jelly Roll Plays Morton di Helga Plankensteiner, tributo all'inventore del jazz Jelly Roll Morton, con una formazione originale a tre fiati gravi: sax baritono, clarinetto basso e tuba.

Prices Jazz Day Alba 2026

Ingresso libero e gratuito a tutti i concerti.

Practical information — Jazz Day Alba

When

April 30th every year, coinciding with the International Jazz Day proclaimed by UNESCO.

Where

Historic center of Alba (CN): Piazza Ferrero, Piazza Garibaldi, and Piazza Duomo. In case of bad weather, concerts are held in Sala Riolfo.

Admission

All events are free and open to the public.

How to get there

Alba is accessible by car via the A33 Asti-Cuneo motorway and by train from Alba station. The historic center, where the concerts take place, is entirely pedestrianized and reachable on foot from the main parking areas.

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Where does it take place — Jazz Day Alba

Piazza Duomo, Piazza Ferrero, Piazza Garibaldi, centro storico

Piazza Risorgimento, 12051 Alba

Contact Jazz Day Alba

Jazz Day Alba in brief

Music Jazz Blues French chanson Outdoor Itinerant Free Multidisciplinary International Cuneo

History of Jazz Day Alba