2026 Student Jazz Band Festival
DATE: APRIL 11, 2026 FREE FOR ALL BANDS & PARTICIPANTS REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!
The Student Jazz Band Festival returns to the historic Carver Theatre in downtown Birmingham, hosted by the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame!
This annual festival brings together high school and college/university jazz bands for an adjudicated performance experience that emphasizes collaboration, education, and artistic growth over competition. Student ensembles perform before their peers and the public, with the option to receive written feedback rather than numerical scores, creating a supportive and enriching environment for developing musicians.
The festival has a strong legacy of excellence, having previously welcomed nationally renowned artists and clinicians such as Zoro, drummer for Lenny Kravitz, and Rashawn Ross, touring trumpeter for the Dave Matthews Band, who have led workshops open to both participants and the community. With no participation fee, the festival has long served as an important platform for performance, mentorship, and recruitment, attracting talented student musicians from across the region.
The 2026 Student Jazz Band Festival will take place April 11th at the Carver Theatre, located at 1631 4th Ave N, Birmingham, Alabama 35203. The festival will also feature a jazz educational workshop designed to enhance the experience for students and educators. All school jazz bands are encouraged to participate. For more information, please contact Dr. Leah Tucker at LTucker@jazzhall.com or call (205) 880-7381.