PDX Jazz Announces Free Community Events and Partner Programming for the 2026 Biamp Portland Jazz Festival

Dozens of Free Performances Spotlight Portland Artists Across Hotels, Cultural Spaces, and Neighborhood Venues

PDX Jazz is pleased to announce an expansive lineup of free community concerts, local artist showcases, and partner events as part of the 2026 Biamp Portland Jazz Festival, running March 5–14, 2026. Presented throughout Portland in collaboration with hotels, community spaces, and cultural partners, these events reflect the Festival’s commitment to accessibility, local artistry, and jazz as a shared civic experience.

The Festival’s community programming features more than 20+ free performances and a dozen by Festival partner events by Portland-based musicians, presented across downtown, neighborhood venues, and all-ages spaces. From intimate duos and trios to larger ensembles, these concerts bring jazz directly into the fabric of the city and invite audiences to experience the Festival without barriers. Events will be hosted at The Duniway Portland, Hyatt Regency Portland at the Oregon Convention Center, Hotel Vance, The Benson Portland, The Nines Hotel Portland, The Hoxton, Inn at Northrup Station, Jupiter NEXT Portland, AC Hotel Portland Downtown, Wilf’s, Rose City Book Pub, pFriem Milwaukie Tasting Room, Jack London Revue, Director Park, St. James Lutheran Church, and The Burlingame Space, which will present a curated series of limited-seating concerts running March 5–14.

Across these venues, audiences can experience performances by Gina Saputo Terzetto, Chris Lee’s Standard Deviations Trio, Michelle Medler, Gordon Lee, Shanghai Woolies, Medler Mode, Chance Hayden, Ritmo & Ensueño, MMQ, Jett Black Pearl Duo, Kerry Politzer Trio, Rivkah Ross Quartet, Ron Steen Trio, Libby Roach Duo, Mike Gamble, Eric Ernst Trio, Ben Graves Duo, Pete Petersen Trio, Rachel Brashear Duo, Dan Duval and Scott Law, Doug Bundy Duo, Jack Radsliff Duo, Galen Clark Duo, Laura Cunard Trio, Mel Brown B3 Organ Group, Cheryl Alex Trio, Mike Prigodich Quartet, and Perry Thoorsell & Tim Gilson Duo, among others.

The community program also includes PJCE-presented Happy-Hour Jazz events at Wilf’s, featuring Dan Balmer: Caminhos Cruzados and the Ryan Meagher Trio, continuing a long-standing partnership with Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble and highlighting the depth of Portland’s creative ecosystem.

Additional community-centered highlights include an all-ages Swingin’ Sounds jam at Rose City Book Pub, outdoor programming at Director Park presented in partnership with PDX Jazz, the Portland Blues and Jazz Dance Society, and Downtown Portland Clean & Safe, featuring Karen Maria and Dave Fleschner with Edwin Coleman III, and the return of Jazz Vespers at St. James Lutheran Church, featuring Cheryl Alex accompanied by the Mike Horsfall Trio with Laurent Nickel and Tim Rap.

These free community performances take place as part of a 10-day citywide Festival featuring more than 50 concerts across 30+ venues, including ticketed performances by internationally celebrated artists. Headlining the 2026 Festival is St. Vincent, whose genre-defying work signals an expanded musical vision for PDX Jazz. Additional featured artists include Mavis Staples, Madeleine Peyroux, and the Bill Frisell Trio, along with MonoNeon with Mohini Dey, Jeff Parker IVtet with SML, Tigran Hamasyan, Cyrus Chestnut, Jarrod Lawson, Lady Blackbird, Isaiah Sharkey, Charlie Hunter Trio, Roger Eno, Brandon Woody’s Upendo, Delbert Anderson, Sam Greenfield, and Cochemea.

The Festival also celebrates Portland excellence through special initiatives, including Shirley Nanette, named the 2026 Portland Jazz Master, and the First Call Artist Showcase featuring Charlie Brown III. A major highlight of this year’s Festival is the debut of the Stumptown Sirens Jazz Orchestra, Portland’s first all-female big band, led by director Jessika “Jessie” Smith.

Chris Doss, Executive Director and CEO of PDX Jazz, shares:

“The Festival’s free community events reflect our belief that jazz belongs to everyone, everywhere, — in concert halls, neighborhoods, and shared public spaces. We are proud to share the music of Portland’s exceptional local artists throughout the Portland Jazz Festival with our national audience”.

Tickets, full schedules, and community event listings are available at pdxjazz.org. Additional artist announcements, educational programming, and partner events will continue to be released in the weeks leading up to the Festival.