UnoJazz&Blues – Festival of widespread Jazz
Sanremo returns to being the jazz capital, between the Casino and the Alfano Auditorium
About UnoJazz&Blues
Seventy years of jazz in Sanremo
When talking about jazz in Italy, Sanremo (Province of Imperia) holds a special place: it was here, as early as the 1950s, that the first major festivals dedicated to the genre took shape. The 2026 edition of UnoJazz&Blues celebrates exactly seventy years since that pioneering season, bringing an international-level lineup back to the Riviera di Ponente.
A widespread festival between two symbolic locations
The event unfolds mainly in two spaces in the city: the Casino Opera Theatre, the Art Nouveau heart of Sanremo's cultural life, and the Franco Alfano Auditorium, set amidst the greenery of Corso degli Inglesi. The formula is that of "widespread" jazz, with concerts, previews, and collateral projects animating the city for over a week.
Great names and emerging talents
The program alternates international legends — from guitarist John Scofield to Kurt Rosenwinkel, to the Swedish saxophonist Nils Landgren — with Italian auteur projects, such as the tribute to Miles Davis and the homage to Dodo Goya at the opening. Alongside the concerts, the UnoJazz&Blues Contest, directed by Mara De Scalzi, provides a platform for young talents, while a photographic exhibition curated by Umberto Germinale tells the city's long jazz history through images.
An entirely private project
Organized by E20Sanremo with the support of Unoenergy, the festival is funded without public money, with the stated ambition of returning Sanremo to compete with the major festivals on the French Riviera. The artistic direction is entrusted to Andrea De Martini and Marco Tonin.
UnoJazz&Blues — edition 2026
The 2026 edition, under the artistic direction of Andrea De Martini and Marco Tonin, celebrates seventy years since the first Sanremo jazz event with nine days of concerts between the Casino Opera Theatre and the Franco Alfano Auditorium. Alongside the major international names, there is space for the UnoJazz&Blues Contest for young talents (directed by Mara De Scalzi), the photographic exhibition by Umberto Germinale "Jazz'in… Sanremo plays jazz… since 1956" and an international photography competition in collaboration with AFIJ.
Programme UnoJazz&Blues 2026
Friday, June 26 — Casino Opera Theatre
- I'll Remember Dodo – Franco D'Andrea Trio (opening: Freddy Colt Mandolinology 4tet) — free admission
Saturday, June 27
- Tennessee Rose Blues Band (opening: The Blues Laws) — free admission
Sunday, June 28
- David Linx Quintet (opening: Toccata with Mario Piacentini) — free admission
Tuesday, June 30
- John Scofield Trio with Ben Street and Bill Stewart — ticketed event (bookings from May 5)
Thursday, July 2
- Miles Davis Tribute with Pietro Tonolo, Jorge Rossy, Dario Deidda, Giampaolo Casati, and Giancarlo Bianchetti — free admission
Friday, July 3
- Kurt Rosenwinkel – The Remedy Tour 2026 — free admission
Saturday, July 4
- Nils Landgren Funk Unit — free admission
Special Summer Events
- July 11 — Kurt Elling meets Orchestra Sinfonica di Sanremo, at the Franco Alfano Auditorium (ticketed)
- September 18 — Final of the UnoJazz&Blues Contest 2026
Highlights UnoJazz&Blues 2026
Prices UnoJazz&Blues 2026
Practical information — UnoJazz&Blues
How to get there
By train: Sanremo station on the Genoa–Ventimiglia line. By car: A10 motorway, Sanremo exit. The Casino and the Alfano Auditorium are located along Corso degli Inglesi.
Tickets
Most concerts at the Casino Opera Theatre are free admission with mandatory booking; only some events (John Scofield Trio, Kurt Elling with the Symphony Orchestra) are ticketed. Information and bookings at www.unojazzandblues.it.
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Where does it take place — UnoJazz&Blues
Teatro dell'Opera del Casinò e Auditorium Franco Alfano
Corso degli Inglesi 18, 18038 Sanremo