SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — April 2026 — International Jazz Week 2026 will take place from April 4 through April 11, presenting a weeklong series of live jazz performances and destination-based cultural experiences across Scottsdale. Designed as a seasonal cultural program, the event integrates music, travel, and regional hospitality into a multi-day format intended to highlight Arizona’s spring tourism period.
Structured around two major public events, International Jazz Week emphasizes live jazz as part of a broader cultural and travel experience. The program reflects a growing interest in events that combine evening performances with daytime leisure, offering visitors and residents opportunities to engage with music within a destination setting.
Opening Weekend Event — April 4
International Jazz Week opens on April 4 with an evening jazz presentation held at a resort location in North Scottsdale. The opening event features live performances representing a range of jazz styles, including contemporary, soul-influenced, and Latin-inspired traditions. The outdoor, nighttime setting is designed to create an immersive cultural atmosphere while showcasing the region’s seasonal climate and hospitality environment.
This opening program establishes the tone for the week, positioning live music as a focal point for cultural gathering and shared experience.
Festival Showcase — April 11
The week concludes on April 11 with the Yrēfy Scottsdale Jazz Festival, held at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale. The full-day festival presents multiple live jazz performances across daytime and evening hours within a resort-based setting. The format allows for a combination of cultural programming and leisure activities, encouraging extended stays and group attendance.
The festival serves as the culminating event of International Jazz Week, bringing together diverse jazz expressions in a single destination while highlighting Scottsdale’s role as a regional center for live music and seasonal cultural activity.
Cultural Recognition
The 2026 program includes a dedicated tribute honoring the legacy of a historically influential jazz trombonist whose contributions played a significant role in the development of American jazz traditions. This recognition reflects the event’s focus on cultural heritage and the preservation of jazz history.
Title Sponsorship and Community Focus
The Yrēfy Scottsdale Jazz Festival is supported by Yrēfy LLC, serving as title sponsor for the April 11 event. Yrēfy LLC is recognized for its work in developing structured financial solutions related to student loan obligations, with an emphasis on education-focused support and long-term financial planning. The sponsorship connects cultural programming with broader awareness of student-related financial challenges and financial literacy.
Event Leadership and Program Development
The 2026 program is led by Doc Jones, Founder and Producer, with a background in jazz programming and cultural event development. The leadership structure reflects a focus on organizing live music experiences that support cultural awareness and educational engagement within the regional arts community.
Cultural Tourism Objectives
International Jazz Week 2026 is designed to support several cultural and tourism-related goals, including:
- Encouraging overnight visitation during Arizona’s spring travel season
- Highlighting live jazz as a component of cultural tourism
- Integrating music, hospitality, and leisure experiences into a unified itinerary
- Supporting regional economic activity through visitor engagement
By aligning live performance with destination-based experiences, International Jazz Week 2026 presents a model for cultural programming that contributes to seasonal tourism while reinforcing the role of music in community and travel experiences.
Event Overview
Dates: April 4–11, 2026
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Contact Media:
Website: https://scottsdalejazzfest.org/