Opening Breda Jazz Festival 2026

Always a super festive moment. This year, Sam Ghezzi & the North Sea Dreammakers will perform the opening musically.  This big band with an all-star lineup of young musicians revitalises the 1930s style.

• Great Market Square centre: Thursday 14 May, 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
  
  

Frits Landesbergen & West Coast Big Band 

Frits Landesbergen is versatile. Not only is he the Netherlands’ best jazz vibraphonist, he is also an excellent drummer and arranger. 
And he is the winner of the Breda Jazz Festival award 2026. So you can see and hear him play on various stages every day.

• Great Market Square centre: Thursday 14 May, 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
  
  

Latin Dance Workshop

With the Latin dance workshops by TotalDance, you will quickly learn the tricks of Salsa, Bachata, and Merengue. These dances give you energy and help you develop more flow and expression. 
The workshops are accessible for both experienced and inexperienced dancers. The dancers of TotalDance know better than anyone how to share the joy of dancing with you. Perfect for meeting new people and dancing together!

• Veemarktplein: Thursday 14 May, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
• Veemarktplein:  Friday 15 May, 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM
• Veemarktplein:  Saturday 16 May, 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM

The Hoochies

 In autumn 2025, The Hoochies won the final of the Dutch Blues Challenge, and now they will represent the Netherlands at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis and the European Blues Challenge in Poland. And, of course, as promised, they will also be appearing at the Breda Jazz Festival.

• Kerkplein: Thursday 14 May, 11:00 PM – 1:00 AM

Presentation of Breda Schoolbands

It has now become a fixture at the Breda Jazz Festival: Bredase Schoolbands demonstrating what they can do. Completely official, just like professional bands, they perform on a large stage, surrounded by photographers and an enthusiastic audience.

Kerkplein: Friday 15th May, 11:00-11:30 am

The Royal Croquettes (NL)

The Royal Croquettes consist of a group of recently graduated musicians from the Royal Conservatory. This new young generation of jazz musicians plays traditional jazz music/from the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s with a fresh perspective. 
The ensemble is also a popular act in the Lindy Hop scene, evoking the atmosphere of the Roaring Twenties. 

• Hotel Nassau Breda: outdoors at the Franciscanessenplein, Friday 15th May, 2:00-4:30 pm

Also to listen to:

• Grote Markt: Sunday 17th May,  2:15-4:00 pm

The Jive Aces ft Miss Charlotte (UK)

Feeling the blues? The Jive Aces will make your frown vanish in an instant! When these guys storm the stage in their characteristic yellow suits, you'll soon be tapping your feet along. This is more than just a show. It’s pure fun, packed with the hottest music from sizzling swing to the gritty roots of rock 'n' roll. All on the biggest stage at the Breda Jazz Festival.

• Spanjaardsgat: Friday 15th March, 4:15-6:30 pm

Also to listen to: 

• Grote Markt: Thursday  14th March, 7:30-9:30 pm
• Kasteelplein noord: Saturday 17th March, 4:15-6:00 pm

Along comes Mary ft Cesar Zuiderwijk

Armed with a tight band, Mary exuberantly goes beyond the boundaries of jazz land. She throws everything into the mix to get you onto the dance floor. Hits from the 1940s, ’50s, and ’60s are revived. And especially for this concert, drummer Cesar Zuiderwijk will join again!

• Kasteelplein noord: Friday 15th May, 10:00-11:30 pm

Meryn Bevelander Band (NL)

The young blues guitarist Meryn Bevelander (22) has been performing since the age of 10 on both the smallest and biggest stages in the Netherlands. Despite his young age, he creates mature and seasoned blues music through which he passionately and wholeheartedly shares his love and passion for music with the audience. Together with his band, he delivers a surge of blues energy to the crowd. 

• Kerkplein: Saturday 16th May, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  
  

Michelle David & The True-tones (US)

Growing up in a church in New York, Michelle David started singing at the age of four and joined her first group at five. Before relocating to Europe, she toured worldwide with Broadway productions, starred in theatre pieces such as The Sound of Motown and Mahalia, and recorded with stars like Diana Ross and Michael Bolton.

Her band, Michelle David & The True-Tones, developed a distinctive sound: rooted in gospel but branching into soul, funk, Afrobeat, and rhythm & blues. The band’s seven albums have received much acclaim. 

• Spanjaardsgat: Saturday 16th May, 4:15 PM - 6:30 PM

Also to be heard:

• Grote Kerk Breda: Sunday 17th May, 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM
  
  

Poder Latino (INT)

Poder Latino means Latin American strength. And that is exactly what this band radiates. The energetic Latin American salsa music and the spectacular show the band puts on will guarantee a fantastic party with plenty of dancing. 

• Veemarktplein: Saturday 16th May, 8:15 PM - 11:00 PM
• Spanjaardsgat: Sunday 1st June, 3:30 PM

Het Brabants Jeugd Jazz Orkest (NL)

The Brabant Youth Jazz Orchestra is a project band for Brabantian youth aged between 16 and 27. Each project consists of a number of rehearsal days followed by a concert(s) on a specific theme. 
The orchestra returns this year with a brand-new project: Reken maar van JAZZ, which collaborates with BOSCO Jazz & Pop Orchestra led by Daan Bogers. 
Get ready to be blown away by the talent our province has to offer!

• Spanjaardsgat: Sunday, 17 May, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
  
  

Harry Kanters (NL) - 50th Anniversary Concert

Harry Kanters from Breda is a virtuoso pianist in various styles of traditional Jazz. His specialties include Ragtime, New Orleans, Stride, Swing, and early Bebop. Harry is very active as a professional freelance pianist and is a popular pianist in ‘All Star’ line-ups and a highly requested guest soloist with various bands worldwide. 
During the Breda Jazz Festival, he will perform in four bands of which he is (co-)leader, and additionally on Sunday afternoon during his special 50-year anniversary concert. 

• 't Sasplein: Sunday, 17 May, 1:45 PM - 4:30 PM

NOLA Dancehall Shakers ft. Nette Mortelmans (NL)

• The gentlemen of NOLA Dance Hall Shakers accompany Nette Mortelmans, a Jazz vocalist with a love for Jazz and Blues music from the 1920s and 1930s. This singer, born and raised in and around Ghent, was introduced early to swing music. Her repertoire is deeply rooted in the early jazz tradition and the rich history of female blues music.
  
  Hotel Nassau Breda, outside, Franciscanessenplein: Sunday, 17 May, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM