NEW ORLEANS (August 05, 2026) — The 26th Annual Satchmo SummerFest, presented by the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Foundation (NOTCF), brought two days of music, food and cultural programming to the New Orleans Jazz Museum on August 1-2. Marking 26 years since the festival’s founding, the celebration honored the life and legacy of Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong through more than 25 live performances, indoor piano sessions, educational talks, and local cuisine.
“This year’s Satchmo SummerFest was a powerful tribute to the music, culture and community spirit of New Orleans,” said Emily Madero, President and CEO of French Quarter Festivals, Inc. “For 26 years, this festival has brought our community together to celebrate Louis Armstrong and the artists who continue to carry his influence forward and we are grateful for everyone who made this year’s event so special.”
Founded in 2001 to commemorate the centennial of Louis Armstrong’s birth, Satchmo SummerFest has grown into one of New Orleans’ most beloved cultural traditions. The festival celebrates his global influence while providing a platform for the musicians, scholars and culture bearers preserving and advancing New Orleans music.
“Satchmo Summerfest is a celebration of everything that makes New Orleans unlike anywhere else in the world,” said Walt Leger III, President and CEO of New Orleans and Company. “Events like this not only honor our city’s rich heritage, but also generate demand for summer tourism and welcome visitors from around the world. We are proud to partner with FQFI and support a festival that continues to honor the legacy of Louis Armstrong.”
The Spirit of Satchmo Echoes Through Every Note
Satchmo SummerFest’s 2026 lineup showcases the rich musical traditions of New Orleans, spanning traditional jazz, brass and marching bands, funk, R&B, and jazz fusion. The festival features a dynamic mix of hometown legends alongside artists making their Satchmo SummerFest debut. Delta Utilities returns as the sponsor of the Esplanade Avenue Stage, one of the festival’s two main outdoor stages.
New this year, the Friends of Fest Stage on Barracks Street celebrates the community spirit that has sustained Satchmo SummerFest for 26 years. Made possible by the generosity of an anonymous donor committed to preserving New Orleans culture and free arts programming, the stage is designed to inspire others to invest in the future of Satchmo SummerFest and help ensure this cherished tradition remains vibrant, accessible, and free for generations to come. Festivalgoers are invited to become Friends of Fest by making a donation at satchmogive.fqfi.org or at any onsite donation station throughout the festival.
Saturday, Aug.1 brings Roots of Music, Preservation Brass, Troy Sawyer & The Elementz featuring Girls Play Trumpets Too, Joe Lastie’s Jazz to Brass, Assata Renay, Hasizzle with TBC Brass Band, the Lawrence Cotton Legendary Experience, Charmaine Neville, Jamil Sharif, Yusa, Jenna McSwain, and a tribute to blues pioneer Ma Rainey featuring Lars Edegran and Thais Clarke.
Sunday, Aug. 2 features the Treme Brass Band, Kid Merv & All That Jazz, Sir Chantz Powell & The Sound Of Funk, The Nayo Jones Experience, Don Vappie and Jazz Creole, The Original Pinettes Brass Band, John Boutté, Mari Watanabe & Chosen Few with Kevin Louis & Will Smith, Juice, Big 6 Brass Band, Linda Aubert, Tom Worrel, and John Royen & Tim Laughlin, closing out the weekend with the festival’s signature moment, Kermit Ruffins’ Tribute to Louis Armstrong.
Located inside the museum, the Fidelity Bank Piano Sessions Stage features intimate performances and provides festivalgoers the opportunity to explore the museum’s exhibitions while enjoying a break from the outdoor stages.
DISHES AS RICH AS THE MUSIC: FESTIVAL FOOD HIGHLIGHTS
The music may have taken center stage, but the food gave festivalgoers plenty to celebrate between sets. Satchmo SummerFest’s culinary lineup brought together New Orleans classics, Caribbean flavors and creative festival dishes from some of the area’s favorite restaurants and vendors. . Through LCMC Health’s Keeping You Well initiative, attendees could also choose from preselected healthy menu items, making it easy to enjoy flavorful festival favorites while supporting healthier choices.
Cafe Dauphine paid tribute to Armstrong by serving one of his favorite dishes, red beans and rice. The restaurant’s menu also featured fried green tomatoes and Cajun seafood eggrolls. Mrs. Wheat’s Pies returned with its signature meat and seafood pies and chicken and sausage jambalaya, while Southern’s drew crowds with its award-winning fried chicken and beer-battered fish sandwiches. .
International flavors also had a strong presence. Nori Guys served inventive dishes such as crab and shrimp wonton nachos and spicy tuna sushi tacos, while 14 Parishes offered Jamaican favorites including jerk chicken and jerk pork. Plum Street Snoballs kept attendees cool with a classic New Orleans treat, while festival beverage booths served refreshing drinks throughout the weekend. Proceeds from beverage sales help keep Satchmo SummerFest free and support the year-round cultural programming of French Quarter Festivals, Inc.
Sunday Traditions Continue the Celebration
Sunday begins at 10 a.m. with the traditional Jazz Mass at historic St. Augustine Church in Tremé, featuring the Treme Brass Band. This year’s service marks a special milestone as the Jazz Mass returns to the church sanctuary for the first time in several years following restoration work, making the tradition even more meaningful for the congregation, the Tremé community and festivalgoers.
Immediately following, festivalgoers are invited to join the Satchmo Salute Parade, a second line that begins at St. Augustine Church, travels down Esplanade Avenue and ends at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, where the festival’s final day gets underway.
Honoring Satchmo Beyond the Stage: Jazz Mass, Salute Parade and Family Fun
Sunday began with one of Satchmo SummerFest’s most cherished traditions, the Jazz Mass at St. Augustine Church. This year’s celebration marked the Mass’s return to the sanctuary following repairs.
After the service, the Annual Satchmo Salute Parade stepped off from St. Augustine Church and traveled down Esplanade Avenue to the New Orleans Jazz Museum. Musicians, cultural groups, festival supporters and community members filled the streets in honor of Armstrong, with attendees encouraged to join the celebration in linen and seersucker.
The Jazz Mass and Satchmo Salute Parade have been central to Satchmo SummerFest since its earliest years, reflecting the deep connection between Armstrong’s legacy, the Tremé community and New Orleans’ musical traditions.
Keeping It Cool: Wellness, Accessibility and Festival Favorites Return
The Junior Zulus returned with free coconut-painting workshops on Saturday and Sunday, giving children and families an opportunity to learn about one of New Orleans’ most recognizable cultural traditions while creating a souvenir to take home.
Cooling areas, shaded seating and misting fans were available throughout the festival grounds to help attendees manage the summer heat thanks to Entergy New Orleans. Through support from LCMC Health, festivalgoers also had access to first aid services, complimentary sunscreen and wellness information.
These resources supported French Quarter Festivals, Inc.’s continued commitment to creating a welcoming and accessible festival experience for attendees of all ages and abilities.
Benny’s Sensory Activation Vehicle was on the grounds, providing a cool, quiet area for those who may have found the weekend’s festivities overstimulating at times, particularly our community members with sensory processing sensitivities.
As this unforgettable 26th anniversary of Satchmo SummerFest closes, French Quarter Festivals, Inc. invites fans to mark their calendars for our next celebration: New Orleans Eve on December 31. This free, family-friendly New Year’s Eve concert in the heart of the French Quarter will ring in 2027 with live local music, community spirit, and plenty of festive surprises.
Satchmo SummerFest will return to honor Louis Armstrong’s legacy with more music, joy, and tradition on July 31-August 1, 2027.
Sponsors and Community Partners
Satchmo SummerFest is made possible through the generous support of our sponsors, community partners, and individual donors, whose investments help keep the festival free and accessible to all. This year, 48 unique volunteers filled 84 festival shifts, contributing more than 280 hours of service to support the event and welcome attendees throughout the weekend. Attendees are encouraged to support the festival by donating at festival gates or online at satchmosummerfest.org.
New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Foundation (NOTCF), New Orleans & Company, Delta Utilities, Friend of Fest, New Orleans Jazz Museum, Joseph K. & Inez Eichenbaum Foundation, LCMC Health, Entergy New Orleans, Omni Royal Orleans, The Folgers Coffee Company, Airbnb, WWL-Louisiana, Fidelity Bank, Abita Brewing Company, French Market District, JAX Brewery Parking Lots and The Berger Company, Music Performance Trust Fund and American Federation of Musicians Local 174-496, The Helis Foundation, Pepsi, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, Caymus Vineyards, Sea Sun Wines, Conundrum Wine, Brown-Forman, Jack Daniel’s, el Jimador Tequila, Diplomatico Rum, Danny & Alana Wolfe, Upbeat Vodka & Upbeat Vodka Cocktails, T-Fiber, Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, Spotted Cat Music Club, DECOY, Beignet Fest Foundation, Luzianne Iced Tea, Renaissance Publishing, Nola.com, Clarion Herald,WWOZ, WWNO, and WGSO
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About French Quarter Festivals, Inc.
Satchmo SummerFest is produced by French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (FQFI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that also produces French Quarter Festival and Holidays New Orleans Style in December.
FQFI’s mission is to promote the Vieux Carré and the City of New Orleans through high-quality special events and activities that showcase the culture and heritage of this unique city, contribute to the economic well-being of the community, and instill increased pride in the people of New Orleans. For more information about French Quarter Festivals, Inc. or any of these events, call (504) 522-5730 or visit www.fqfi.org.