Montreux Jazz Festival team up with Southbank Centre for 2026 London residency and to celebrate Miles Davis with special shows

Montreux Jazz Festival have teamed up with Southbank Centre for the second year of their London Residency, this time celebrating Miles Davis.

The three-day residency, which launched this year, asks: “What is jazz today?”. In 2026, it will do so through the lens of Miles Davis, marking 100 years since his birth.

Shows will run at the iconic venue from March 13 to 15 2026, and will feature a line-up that includes Theo Croker, Children of Zeus – who are set to join forces with members of London youth club Tomorrow’s Warriors – and Mercury Music Prize-nominated corto.alto.

Free events will also run alongside the residency, which will include a tribute to D’Angelo, who died earlier this year, an in-conversation event with Celeste, as well as writing workshops, improvisational open jam sessions, and more.

Mark Ball, Artistic Director of the Southbank Centre, has said of the launch: “The return of the Southbank Centre x Montreux Jazz Festival Residency showcases jazz at its most boundary-pushing and curious and as an ever evolving form, bringing together artists who are expanding our understanding of jazz.

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“The residency marks the centenary of the legendary Miles Davis, whose pioneering artistry serves as a touchstone for its programme, inspiring both performances and discussions of jazz as a living artistic force,” Ball continued. “Across the three days, we will welcome to the stage a diversity of perspectives and voices, each shaping the conversation around jazz’s future and its forward-looking, collaborative spirit.”

Mathieu Jaton, CEO of Montreux Jazz Festival, added: “We’re proud to continue our partnership with the Southbank Centre and bring the spirit of Montreux to London once again.

“The question ‘What is Jazz Today?’ lies at the heart of both Montreux Jazz Festival and this residency — a celebration of artists who, like Miles Davis, challenge conventions, boundaries and keep the music alive as a constantly evolving art form. Together, we aim to inspire new generations of musicians and audiences by honouring jazz’s past while amplifying its vibrant, unpredictable future.”

This year’s inaugural edition of the residency saw Laura Mvula, Corinne Bailey Rae and more lead an all-star tribute to Nina Simone. Simone notably gave a legendary performance at Montreux Jazz Festival in 1976 after she returned from exile in Liberia.

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