Every year, the New Orleans Jazz Heritage Festival presents its lineup and every year, the music world holds its breath. But the 2026 edition feels different.

The headliners: Herbie Hancock, performing a rare full-band electric set; Raphael Saadiq, closing Friday night in his first major festival appearance in eight years; Doechii; and Jon Batiste, the New Orleans native who returns home as one of music’s most celebrated figures.

Raphael Saadiq: The Homecoming

The most anticipated performance is Saadiq’s Friday night closing set, which takes on added significance given his concurrent album announcement. Sources suggest the performance will serve as a live preview of material from Bloodlines, with Saadiq bringing several of the New Orleans musicians who played on the record back to the stage where their musical lineage began.

Single-day passes start at $85. Weekend passes are $220. The festival spans April 25-27 and May 1-3 across 12 stages at the Fair Grounds Race Course.