The Taormina Jazz Festival is back From 23 to 26 July, the city will transform into a crossroads of world jazz
From 23 to 26 July, the Taormina Jazz Festival returns for its 13th edition, with a programme that promises to thrill jazz enthusiasts from all over the world. Three extraordinary concerts, two iconic venues and internationally renowned artists, exploring some of the most fascinating expressions of contemporary jazz and transforming some of the most evocative locations into spaces for encounter, discovery and sharing.
Behind the Taormina Jazz Festival, together with the Tao Jazz Association and the Taormina Jazz Association, lies the vision of Feliciotto, today a cultural point of reference for those who experience fashion as a form of expression. It is from here that Feliciotto’s role as organiser and head of the festival’s creative direction was born: the ability to bring music, art, fashion and lifestyle into dialogue within a single coherent narrative, combining musical tradition with a contemporary outlook. A vision that celebrates stylistic excellence and contemporary trends, designed for those who experience fashion as a form of personal expression.
Opening the 13th edition, at the Public Gardens of Taormina, will be the Alfredo Rodríguez Trio. A Cuban pianist and composer among the most acclaimed of his generation, Rodríguez has won over international audiences thanks to his ability to blend Afro-Cuban tradition with the language of contemporary jazz. Discovered by Quincy Jones, he has built a career over time that has taken him to the world’s most important festivals and theatres. On stage, he will be joined by Andreou Panagiotis on double bass and Michael Olivera on drums, bringing to life a trio capable of alternating rhythmic intensity, melodic refinement and great communicative power.
On 25 July, again at the Public Gardens, it will be the turn of the Roberto Gatto Quartet feat. Pietro Tonolo. A Rome-born drummer and composer of international renown, Gatto brings to the stage decades of experience and a versatile musicality that has made him one of the most respected Italian jazz musicians in the world. Having collaborated with some of the greatest figures in contemporary music, he has always maintained an open approach to experimentation and research. He will be joined by Pietro Tonolo, one of Europe’s most authoritative saxophonists; Alessandro Presti, Alfonso Santimone on piano and Gabriele Evangelista on double bass.
Grand finale at the Ancient Theatre of Taormina with Cécile McLorin Salvant, an artist considered one of the most important and innovative figures in contemporary jazz. Winner of numerous Grammy Awards and of the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition, the Franco-American singer has redefined the very concept of jazz vocality in recent years. Her interpretations bring together jazz, blues, folk, French chanson, classical music and musical theatre. Able to move between classic standards and original compositions with a unique voice and stage presence, she will be accompanied by Sullivan Fortner on piano, Yasushi Nakamura on bass and Kyle Poole on drums.
Accompanying the 13th edition is a new visual identity developed from the original artwork by Sicilian artist Antonio Forlin, who, through symbolic figures and evocative signs, celebrates music as a universal language. The festival image was created by Sara Willi, Art Director and Communication Manager of Feliciotto Concept Store, who reinterprets a hymn to rhythm, creativity and jazz’s ability to cross cultures, emotions and different languages.
The new Main Sponsor of the 2026 edition is Moscot, today a luxury eyewear brand, now in its fifth generation, with over one hundred years of optical expertise behind it. Over time, its glasses have adorned the faces of artists, musicians and actors of the calibre of John Lennon, Andy Warhol, Johnny Depp and Al Pacino. For the Taormina Jazz Festival 2026, Moscot will accompany the artists with a selection of its most representative models and a series of dedicated activities.
Y-3, the renowned international luxury sportswear brand born from the collaboration between Adidas and Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto, also confirms its role as sponsor by creating, together with Feliciotto Concept Store, a special capsule collection dedicated to the festival, consisting of two limited-edition T-shirts.