The name “More Than Jazz” expresses the intention to move beyond labels and promote a contemporary culture of live performance. The series transcends the “jazz” genre and expands to include international artists, creating connections with cultures across the world. Just as many Italian and Friulian emigrants crossed the Atlantic Ocean and became part of the communities in which they settled, over the centuries the universal language of music has travelled across continents, bringing together musical cultures that are geographically distant yet stylistically very close.

The 2026 edition invites audiences to embark on an imaginary passenger ship, where they will encounter leading figures from the international jazz scene presenting original, often previously unheard projects rooted in the folk music of their places of origin. What will emerge is less the diversity of the performers’ backgrounds than the affinities and cross-pollinations between musical cultures on both sides of the Atlantic. This journey will be titled “More Than Jazz 2026 – Atlantic Transits.”