(SeaPRwire) –   WASHINGTON and PARIS, March 31, 2026 — The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz has announced that its esteemed International Jazz Competition will focus on jazz vocals in 2026. For the first time in its history, the competition will be held outside the United States, taking place in Paris, France, in collaboration with the Fondation Louis Vuitton.

Recognized globally as the premier jazz competition, the Institute’s International Jazz Competition has been instrumental for nearly four decades in identifying and nurturing the next generation of jazz artists. The 2026 event will gather exceptional young vocalists from across the globe to compete on an international platform. The competition is open to musicians aged 30 and under and will offer over $100,000 in scholarships and prizes. This includes a $50,000 first-place award sponsored by the Fondation Louis Vuitton, along with $25,000 for second place and $10,000 for third place.

The competition weekend, hosted in the Fondation’s Auditorium, will feature a highly anticipated Semifinals round on Saturday, October 10. This will be followed by the Competition Finals and a spectacular All-Star Gala Concert on the evening of Sunday, October 11. The distinguished judging panel will be chaired by acclaimed jazz vocalist and Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Trustee, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and will include an all-star assembly of internationally renowned artists.

Notable past vocalists who have won the competition and subsequently become leading figures in jazz include Jazzmeia Horn, Jane Monheit, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Gretchen Parlato, and Veronica Swift—artists who are currently shaping the global jazz scene.

Herbie Hancock, Chairman of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, stated:

“The 2026 edition of the Competition will focus on jazz vocals. The human voice is the very first instrument. A singer can tell a story in a way that connects directly with the listener. Music allows us to communicate emotions, ideas, and experiences that go beyond words. A great vocalist brings those worlds together—language and music—in a way that feels deeply human.”

The Institute’s International Competition has a proven track record of discovering extraordinary artists, serving as a crucial link between emerging talent and the future of jazz. Beyond the vocalists mentioned, the competition has helped launch the careers of numerous distinguished artists, such as saxophonists Joshua Redman and Melissa Aldana; pianist, composer, and Academy Award winner Kris Bowers; bassist Ben Williams; and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire.

The Institute is proud to collaborate with the Fondation Louis Vuitton, a prominent cultural institution committed to making art accessible to everyone. The Fondation showcases a vibrant program of contemporary and modern art exhibitions and live performances across various disciplines, with a significant emphasis on classical and jazz music programming in its state-of-the-art Auditorium. Its iconic building, designed by the late Frank Gehry—a valued member of the Institute’s Board of Trustees and recipient of the Herbie Hancock Humanitarian Award—further highlights the strong connection between the two organizations. Since its opening in 2014, the Fondation has become a landmark of contemporary architecture in Paris and a leading venue for international cultural events, attracting over 12 million visitors.

The competition will be broadcast globally via Medici.tv, FLV Play (the Fondation Louis Vuitton’s website video platform), and YouTube, ensuring worldwide audiences can experience the excitement of the performances and witness the rise of jazz’s next generation of artists. In addition to the competition performances, the program will feature special masterclasses at the Fondation, providing jazz education opportunities for local organizations and students.

Applications for the 2026 International Jazz Vocals Competition are now open at hancockinstitute.org/competition. All application materials must be submitted by July 15, 2026. Additional details, including information on judges and ticketing, will be released at a later date.

The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz is a nonprofit educational organization that provides college-level training by world-renowned jazz masters to the world’s most promising young musicians. It also offers public school music education programs for young people globally. The Institute is dedicated to preserving, perpetuating, and expanding jazz as a global art form, and uses jazz as a tool to connect people of all ages, backgrounds, and nationalities. All programs are offered free of charge. In partnership with UNESCO, the Paris-based United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Institute leads the nonprofit efforts in planning, promoting, and producing International Jazz Day, an annual global celebration of jazz and its role in cultural diplomacy, observed on April 30 in over 190 countries.

For further information, please visit hancockinstitute.org.

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