The NN North Sea Jazz Festival, the world’s largest indoor music festival, has revealed the first wave of artists for its return to the Ahoy Centre in Rotterdam this July. Taking place from Friday 11th – Sunday 13th July 2025, this year’s event will feature a star-studded line-up of international talent alongside the most celebrated up-and-coming artists spanning jazz, blues, soul, pop, and more.
Amongst the 30+ artists announced today are an array of big hitters including the era-defining soul singer Mary J Blige, 4x Brit Award-nominated Ezra Collective, R&B star Jorja Smith, visionary US saxophonist Kamasi Washington, jazz vocal sensation Samara Joy, New Zealand born producer, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Jordan Rakei, neo-soul star Maxwell, powerhouse US vocalist Lady Blackbird, blues-rock guitar maestro Joe Bonamassa with the Metropole Orkest, world renowned sitar virtuoso Anoushka Shankar, retro soul outfit Thee Sacred Souls, soulful Uganda-born, UK-based singer-songwriter Victor Ray, one of the leading voices in Afrobeats music Omah Lay, and LA-based contemporary poet, writer, lyricist, and activist Aja Monet.
This year’s program is anchored by Jacob Collier, the festival’s 2025 Artist in Residence. The six-time Grammy winner will perform across all three days, presenting unique and varied shows that reflect his dazzling musical versatility.
A selection of the biggest names in contemporary jazz will once again grace the North Sea stages with this year’s line-up featuring the likes of Immanuel Wilkins, Branford Marsalis, Julian Lage, Madeleine Peyroux, Lakecia Benjamin, Avishai Cohen’s Quartet, Jazzmeia Horn, Kurt Elling & Yellowjackets celebrating Weather Report, Lionel Hampton Big Band featuring Jason Marsalis, Tigran Hamasyan, and Ghost-Note.
Full line-up to date is below and additional names will be announced in due course.
Attracting around 80,000 music fans annually, the North Sea Jazz Festival has earned an unrivalled reputation since its debut in 1976, having hosted legendary artists over the years such as Miles Davis, Prince, Ella Fitzgerald, Amy Winehouse, and Adele to name but a few. This summer the festival will feature more than 1,000 musicians across 150 performances and 15 different stages. With Rotterdam just under an hour’s flight, a direct train from London St Pancras, or even a ferry trip from multiple UK locations, the North Sea Jazz Festival is easily accessible, making it an ideal weekend getaway.
NN North Sea Jazz Festival 2025 – Rotterdam Ahoy Centre
Friday 11th July: Mary J Blige, Avishai Cohen (trumpet) Quartet, Branford Marsalis Quartet, DeWolff, Ezra Collective, Jacob Collier (artist in residence), Jordan Rakei, Judith Hill, Julian Lage, Madeleine Peyroux, Omah Lay, Victor Ray
Saturday 12th July: Aja Monet, Fujii Kaze, Ghost-Note, Jacob Collier (artist in residence), Joe Bonamassa & Metropole Orkest, Jonathan Jeremiah, Lionel Hampton Big Band featuring Jason Marsalis, Mary Halvorson Amaryllis Sextet, Maxwell, Naomi Sharon, Samara Joy
Sunday 13th July: Anoushka Shankar, Immanuel Wilkins Quartet, Jacob Collier (artist in residence), Jazzmeia Horn, Jorja Smith, Kamasi Washington, Kurt Elling & Yellowjackets celebrate Weather Report, Lady Blackbird, Lakecia Benjamin, Thee Sacred Souls, Tigran Hamasyan