*In addition to our 7th annual “12 hour” April 18th festival, NJF has organized EXCLUSIVE additional performance opportunities listed below. Arrive as early as April 15-17 and create a “Philly Jazz Experience” that will last a lifetime!
What’s New For 2026?
All April 18 2026 Registered Competitive & Non Competitive Instrumental & Vocal Divisions will be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
Vocal and Instrumental students will have the opportunity to perform with NJF All Star Ensembles via a pre-festival video upload. Participation includes shirt and hoagie dinner. info@nationaljazzfestival.org
All Vocal ensembles are able to participate in any additional clinics, recording sessions and pre-festival events.
Each registered student and director will receive a free group picture.
Each registered student and director will receive a $10 credit toward the 2026 NJF tee-shirt.
2026 Instrumental & Vocal Clinics are now 55 minutes and include a Sight Reading Seminar with your NJF clinician. Contact: info@nationaljazzfestival.org for more information
Vocal Soloist submissions include complimentary Vocal All Star Ensemble participation. Help us by submitting a name our new NJF Vocal Jazz Ambassadors! Winning entry gets a free NJF shirt!
New Jazz Instrumental Division: “HS Jazz Combo” for 3-8 musicians. Contact: info@nationaljazzfestival.org for more information
Academy Division participation includes our HS large ensemble registration, HS jazz combo registration, competitive sight reading and a Clinic.
We announce our Collegiate Invitational Divisions.
Last years popular “History of Jazz” Seminar continues!
Jam Session participation will be pre-registered
If your group is unavailable on Saturday April 18 contact wilbur@nationaljazzfestival.org to participate in our many April 15-17 pre-festival options.
Here are additional 2026 NJF program options on April 18th
All Vocal and Instrumental Ensembles can add the popular optional NJF “Clinic” (Program 2) & “Recording Studio” (Program 3)
In addition to your April 18th competitive or non-competitive Program 1 package NJF is again offering a limited number of Program 2 “Day of Festival” 55 minute clinics from one of our elite NJF visiting artists in a Convention Center Clinic Room. Also available will be college representatives providing audition information for your seniors and their parents. $600.00 Registration fee
In addition to your April 18th competitive or non-competitive Program 1 package NJF is now offering a limited number of Program 2 “Day of Festival” 55 minute clinics from one of our elite NJF visiting artists in a Convention Center Clinic Room. Also available will be college representatives providing audition information for your seniors and their parents. $600.00 Registration fee
Also available to schedule on Saturday April 18th is our “Program 3A“. An “Offsite” Recording Studio Tour or “Program 3B & C” your very own Professional Recording Performance Package. These are available near the Convention Center at our participating partnered NJF Recording Studio. Note: these April 18th packages are available for a limited number of ensembles before or after their April 18th Convention Center performances. Register early for us to coordinate this special opportunity for your students. info@nationaljazzfestival.org
- Program 3A – $300.00 Registration fee: You and your students will experience a 45 minute visit to a professional recording studio. Let them see and experience a lifetime of memories where the magic of recording music happens. Perfect career exploration choice for your students.
- Program 3B – $1000.00 Registration fee. Spend 90 minutes recording your ensemble in a professional recording studio. Leave Philadelphia with a professional stereo mix from multi-tracked channels. A life time of memories preserved by this unique performance of your ensemble.
- Program 3C – $1750.00 Registration fee: includes an NJF world class guest soloist to your 3B recording project. info@nationaljazzfestival.org
- Coming Early to Philadelphia? Welcome to the NJF Pre-Festival Jazz Party!
Coming Early to Philadelphia? Welcome to the NJF Pre-Festival Jazz Party! Wednesday – Thursday – Friday April 15th – 17th 2026 NJF Program Availability
In addition to program 2 & 3 we have programs 4, 5 & 6!
Program 2: $600.00 Registration fee: Receive a 55 minute clinic from one of our elite NJF visiting artists. Let them fine tune your ensemble for the upcoming Convention Center festival!
Program 3A, 3B & 3C: Recording Studio Tour or Recording Performance Package Option:
- Program 3A – $300.00 Registration fee: You and your students will tour a professional recording studio. Let them see and experience a lifetime of memories where the magic of recording music happens. Perfect career exploration choice for your students.
- Program 3B – $1000.00 fee: Spend 90 minutes recording in an NJF approved professional recording studio. Create a lifetime of memories and return home with a stereo mix and tracked performance of your ensemble.
- Program 3C – $1750.00 Registration fee: add an NJF world class guest soloist to your 3B recording project. info@nationaljazzfestival.org
- Program 4 – $2000.00 Registration fee: This program is available April 15 -17. Experience a World Class Live Jazz Show with a Dinner coupon at a Philadelphia Jazz Club. Jazz Concert includes Dinner coupon and preferred seating for 20 students and their director. *Additional tickets including dinner are available for parents & guests $125.00 each
- Program 5 – $2750.00 Registration fee: Perform at one of Philadelphia’s Premier Jazz Clubs. Note this special NJF package is available on a limited basis April 15 -17. Perform with an elite NJF guest artist at one of the famous “Philadelphia Jazz Clubs”. You will rehearse with the artist and perform one set in the evening. Includes dinner coupon for 20 students and director. Additional tickets are available for parents & guests. Live Streaming services of your show can be added to this package. Recording services of your show can be added to this package. CONTACT: info@nationaljazzfestival.org
- Program 6 – $1500.00 Registration fee: Pre-Register with NJF to be part of a NJF Philadelphia Jazz Club Jam Session! Your kids can perform with or watch an NJF approved Jam Session and eat “Philadelphia Cheese Steak and Pretzels” ! (menu available) Note this special NJF package is available on a limited basis April 15-17. CONTACT: info@nationaljazzfestival.org
FESTIVAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
- NJF Performance Code Of Conduct: As director/school representative, I declare that our school will follow all the National Jazz Festival rules and regulations. We enter the NJF promising to uphold the integrity of the festival and look forward to participation in a fun and fair environment.
- Canceled event: the NJF reserves the right to cancel the festival due to circumstances related to travel/venue/city restrictions, lack of participation or funding.
- The NJF will not be liable for any traveling costs associated with a cancellation of the event. We strongly recommend travel insurance for all expenses.
- Refund Policy: Bands and performers that cancel will receive a refund if the cancellation is received as follows: Refunds will be given if the cancellation for bands or performers is made prior to January 18, 2026. No refund will be given if cancellation for bands or performers is made after that date.
- Force Majeure. In the event National Jazz Festival is unable to perform its obligations or is unable to utilize the Convention Center License Area in accordance with the terms of and as contemplated by their Agreement as a result of natural disaster, riot, war, civil disorder, Acts of God export/import embargo, court order or any other causes beyond our reasonable control and which it could not have prevented by reasonable precautions, NJF shall be entitled to terminate this Festival upon written notice thereby relieving NJF from further liability and obligations. Neither NJF nor the Philadelphia Convention Center shall be liable for any loss or damages suffered by the Festival participants. Customer shall not be entitled to a refund of any deposits or other charges paid in advance to NJF after January 18 2026.
- Privacy/Images: All individuals participating in any manner in any part of the Festival grant permission to the NJF to take and use: photographs and video images of Festival participants for unlimited use in news releases, advertisement, promotional, or other commercial purposes, including but not limited to web sites or other electronic media without any compensation to the Festival participant. All such photographic and video images, negatives, prints and digital reproductions shall be the property of the NJF.
- Indemnification. Festival participants shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless the National Jazz Festival (NJF), its officers, agents and employees harmless from and against any and all liability, loss, expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) or claims for injury or damages arising from participation at any NJF location events. This includes damages caused by or result from the negligent or intentional acts or omissions by festival participants, its officers, agents or employees.
- The Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority and NJF shall defend, indemnify and hold Customer, its officers, agents and employees harmless from and against any and all liability, loss, expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) or claims for injury or damages arising out of the performance of this Agreement, but only in proportion to and to the result from the negligent or intentional acts or omissions of the Authority, its officers, agents or employees. The indemnification of Customer by the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority contained in this paragraph is expressly limited by and subject to the provisions of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority Act, 64 PAC.S. 6001 et seq. (“Act”) or any amendment thereof and all other provisions of applicable law as well as by the limits of the Pennsylvania Convention Center and NJF available insurance.
FESTIVAL GENERAL RULES
- All students participating in an ensemble must be from the same school. All-star ensembles from the same district or ensembles comprised of students from more than 1 school in a district will be allowed to perform in the “non-competitive” category.
- All ensembles and individuals must be registered by a school director or school official to ensure that the students are in “good standing” with their school and also to ensure that the school is aware of the students’ participation. This includes the Jazz Vocal Solo and Jazz Recording Arts Categories.
- Schools may enter more than one ensemble in each category and each performing group will be placed in the appropriate division by school population. If a school registers more than one ensemble, those ensembles will be in the same division. Ensembles will be received in order of registration. For schools that have more than one ensemble however and wish not to compete against their own school, they can choose to perform in the non-competitive division. Instrumental Academy Division is by director choice of wanting to compete against bands that primarily have Jazz as a class daily. info@nationaljazzfestival.org
- If a school has more than 1 ensemble in a specific performance category, each ensemble must be comprised entirely by other (different) students. The only exception would be in instrumental ensembles where the student is playing an entirely different instrument in each ensemble. There are no exceptions in the vocal categories.
- All self-reporting of school information, ensemble information, and individual information must be truthful. Ensembles or individuals reporting inaccurate or false information in order to gain a competitive advantage will be disqualified and not allowed to participate in future National Jazz Festivals.
- All rules and regulations of each ensemble and individual category must be followed.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE 12/18/2025