The Gent Jazz line-up is taking shape: Snarky Puppy, Stanley Clarke, DARKSIDE, Shabaka, Dressed Like Boys, Selah Sue & The Gallands, Stavroz, Jon Muq, Annie & The Caldwells, Josh Johnson, Lambert, Gala Dragot, Lady Linn and her Magnificent Seven & OLA TUNJI
Gent Jazz announces an exciting new festival day on 16 July, headlined by Snarky Puppy, DARKSIDE and Stavroz. Five-time Grammy Award-winning jazz fusion collective Snarky Puppy is renowned for its adventurous performances, seamlessly fusing funk, R&B, soul, jazz and rock. Electronic music duo DARKSIDE — Nicolas Jaar and Dave Harrington — promise an atmospheric set, featuring both much-loved classics and new material from their third album, ‘Nothing’. The pride of Belgium, Stavroz, continues to conquer major stages worldwide with hypnotic live performances, and promises an exuberant finale at Gent Jazz.
The Main Stage will also host bass legend Stanley Clarke, presenting his brand-new album ‘Last Train to Sanity’. Joined by his dynamic band 4EVER — featuring pianist Beka Gochiashvili, drummer Jeremiah Collier, tenor saxophonist Emilio Modeste and guitarist Colin Cook — Clarke completes the Main Stage line-up on 2 July, alongside Sun Ra Arkestra, Terence Blanchard & Ravi Coltrane, andLakecia Benjamin.
On 3 July, Dressed Like Boys — the solo project of Jelle Denturck (DIRK) — will perform modern pop that reflects on themes such as identity and the struggle of the queer community. On 7 July, Annie & The Caldwells complete the Main Stage line-up, along with Van Morrison, D.K. Harrell and Axelle Red. This family from Mississippi promises to serve up powerful disco-soul. Their 2025 release ‘Can’t Lose My (Soul)’ was hailed as “a masterpiece” by The Guardian.
On 10 July, joining Marcus Miller and his band on the Main Stage — alongside Charles Lloyd Quartet and acclaimed drummer Nate Smith — is the vibrant and visionary Shabaka. In 2026, Shabaka picked up his saxophone once again for his latest project, ‘Of The Earth’, set for release on 6 March. Brussels-based jazz quartet OLA TUNJI, winners of Gent Jazz Talent 2025, will kick off the festival day on the Main Stage. Their music channels the intensity and freedom of the 1960s ‘New Thing’ movement, building their live performances into powerful, immersive experiences.
On 13 July, all Main Stage slots will be filled: In addition to John Legend and Samara Joy, the programme will also feature Selah Sue & The Gallands and Lady Linn and her Magnificent Seven. Selah Sue joins forces with father-and-son duo Stéphane and Elvin Galland for a cross-genre project in which her magnetic voice meets organic grooves and contemporary jazz, resulting in intense and powerful live performances. Lady Linn and her Magnificent Seven will showcase their album, ‘Midnight Sun’, a heartfelt ode to the night, in which jazz, rock, pop, house, gospel and country come together.
New names for the Garden Stage
The line-up for the adventurous Garden Stage continues to grow, welcoming four exciting and impressive new names. On 3 July, audiences will discover Lambert, the German pianist and composer who shook up the contemporary classical scene with his eponymous 2014 debut, since which he has increasingly embraced his jazz roots. On 7 July, Ugandan singer-songwriter Jon Muq will perform his soulful songs, inspired by African and Western traditions and full of reflection and resilience.
On 10 July, American saxophonist, composer and Grammy-winning producer Josh Johnson takes to the stage. Working the studio sliders for some of the world’s most influential artists, Johnson steps into the spotlight at Gent Jazz with his own futuristic jazz sound. On 17 July, it will be the turn of Belgian-Albanian art-pop sensation Gala Dragot. In 2023, Gala released the hit track ‘Teardrops’ with The Subs, and in 2024 she contributed to the soundtrack of ‘Putain’ with Zwangere Guy. Soon, she will be releasing her debut EP, which promises to be filled with glitchy electronica.
Tickets for the newly announced festival day on 16 July will be available from Friday 27 February at 10:00 via www.gentjazz.com.
