Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival

59th annual Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival

April 22-25, 2026

Grounded in tradition, breaking new ground. Lionel Hampton’s vision of celebrating jazz through music education is alive and well.

University of Idaho’s Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival (LHJF) is one of the largest and oldest educational jazz festivals in the world. With hundreds of student performances, outstanding evening concerts with world-class jazz artists and nearly 100 workshops, clinics and special exhibits, LHJF honors the music, dance and history of jazz music and one of its most honored artists, Lionel Hampton.

Join in the jazz!

Attend concerts, free interactive workshops, student performances and special jazz events in beautiful Moscow, Idaho. Earn free concert tickets when you volunteer with the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival.

Interested in competing? Register vocal or instrumental entries in this year’s festival for a one-of-a-kind musical experience.

Schedules and events

Concerts

See the jazz legends, outstanding student performances and LHSOM ensembles. Visit UI Tickets to experience the excitement of LHJF Concerts.

Learn more about this year's featured artists.

April 22: Hamp’s Gala

7 p.m. | Administration Auditorium

FREE! Our traditional evening kick-off concert featuring Lionel Hampton School of Music ensembles. Reserve tickets online or at the door.

April 23: World Music Celebration

7 p.m. | ICCU Arena

Tito Puente, Jr.
Summer Camargo
UI Jazz Band I
UI Jazz Choir I
World Beat Ensemble

Award Announcements

Elementary Competition
Junior Competition
College Competition
Junior Sweepstakes Winner

April 24: Jazzmeia Horn & Warren Wolf

7 p.m. | ICCU Arena

Jazzmeia Horn
Warren Wolf
UI Chamber Jazz Choir
UI Jazz Band I
Palouse Jazz Project
Hamp’s Jazz Ambassadors

Live Competition Finals

Senior Vocal Sweepstakes Competition
Senior Vocal Avista Scholarship Competition

Award Announcements

Senior Vocal Daytime Competition Winners
Senior Vocal Sweepstakes Winners
Senior Vocal Avista Scholarship Winners

April 25: Something Else! & Lionel Hampton Big Band

7 p.m. | ICCU Arena

Something Else!
Lionel Hampton Big Band
Hamp’s Jazz Ambassadors

Live Competition Finals

Senior Instrumental Sweepstakes Competition
Senior Instrumental Scholarship Competition

Award Announcements

Senior Instrumental Daytime Competition Winners
Senior Instrumental Sweepstakes Winners
Senior Instrumental Avista Scholarship Winners

Workshops

Renowned artists and educators from around the nation lead workshops on jazz music, dance and more! These events are free and open to all.

Stay tuned for this year’s workshop descriptions and schedule.

Competitive student performances

Jazz students travel far and wide to play at LHJF. Watch student performances all over campus during the festival. No tickets are required.

Student performance schedule will be available April 1.

Jazz in the Schools

Jazz in the Schools (JIS) is an energetic, fun and educational community outreach program focused on taking jazz into classrooms throughout the Northwest. Throughout the year, students meet professional jazz artists, learn about the varied forms of jazz music and practice their jazz skills through hands-on activities.

JIS fills a vital gap in arts access, especially in areas with limited cultural programming. The program helps to foster a community appreciation for the arts while showing how music can inspire, connect and enrich lives.

Support the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival

LHJF relies on donations from people like you! Your gift allows the festival to build on its tradition of excellence by offering quality and enhanced opportunities to students and patrons alike.

With an annual gift of $500 or more, you become eligible to purchase LHJF tickets weeks before the public. Sit back, relax and watch your support make a difference.

How to give

Give online

Make a one-time or recurring gift through our secure online portal.

Make your gift today

Give by mail

Prefer to send a check? Please make it payable to Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival and mail it to:

Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival
875 Perimeter Drive MS 4015
Moscow, ID 83844-4015