B:Music is delighted to announce the next season of free-to-attend Free Jazz Friday performances in the Jennifer Blackwell Performance Space at Symphony Hall, Birmingham. One of the city’s longest-running jazz programmes continues throughout 2026 and into 2027, showcasing artists from both the local scene and across the world.

The season opens with a performance from Ankora, graduates of Tomorrow’s Warriors, followed by Birmingham’s own John Fleming Trio. Towards the end of 2026, the programme turns its focus to larger ensembles from the jazz canon, featuring performances from Disco Manifest, Rebecca Wing and the Heritage Big Band, and The Notebenders Community Big Band.

A highlight of this year’s programme is the now-annual collaboration between EJN members i-Jazz and B:Music. For the third time, this partnership will present exceptional Italian talent, bringing the sensational Kolosso to Birmingham in October 2026. This ongoing relationship, supported by I-Jazz, enables B:Music to introduce UK audiences to some of Italy’s finest jazz musicians each year. Adding to the European dimension, the season also features a collaboration between the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Siena Jazz Accademia del Jazz, and Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg, ahead of their joint appearance at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival.

With nods to key anniversaries, dance-led collaborations, and takeovers from prominent local and national partners, this fortnightly series continues to thrive—attracting a loyal audience of 250–300 people for every performance.

Chris Proctor, Head of Programme at B:Music:

“We’re delighted to share the next Free Jazz Friday series for 2026/27, and are particularly excited to announce that for the first time ever, over 50% of the season features bands that are female-led/female artists, over 70% of the artists in the series are from (or now live in) Birmingham, and that we have the opportunity to collaborate with some amazing partners from across the UK and Europe”

Talent Development forms a key part of the season, with opportunities for the B:Music ensembles to take over a Free Jazz Friday performance, early-career professionals, and tutors from B:Music’s Talent Development programme having opportunities to showcase their bands and projects to a dedicated audience – and taking those next steps on their career as jazz musicians.

Lucy-Ellen Parker – Talent Development and Education Manager, part of the Development and Impact Team at B:Music:

"We are really excited to be continuing our close collaboration with the Programming team on their 2026/2027 Free Jazz Friday season. We will be showcasing the best young talent that Birmingham has to offer through our B:and Together Summer Showcase taking place in June, as well as multiple takeovers across the season in partnership with the organisation Women in Jazz as part of our She:Music program. Our team's Project Officer, Katy Minter, continues to host the performances as part of the Free Jazz Friday gig series and you'll often find participants of our Talent Development and Education programs in the audience. This aspect of B:Music's program always provides us with the perfect way for our teams to connect their activity for the benefit of everyone involved!"

All of the performances in the season are free-to-attend and unticketed, and the full list of performances can be found here: B:Music | B:Music

Photo: Ankora