Ahead of the EFG London Jazz Festival, scheduled to take place from 13 to 22 November, Serious has unveiled the programme for its Summer Jazz Series 2026, a concert series that will bring a selection of internationally acclaimed artists to some of London’s leading venues, including the Barbican Centre, Cadogan Hall, Union Chapel and the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
Among the highlights for jazz audiences is Al Di Meola‘s appearance at the Barbican on 25 June, as well as the much-anticipated collaboration between trumpeter Terence Blanchard and saxophonist Ravi Coltrane on 9 July. Entitled Miles Davis and John Coltrane at 100, the project pays tribute to two giants of African American music on the centenary of their births – a theme that will also run throughout the autumn festival programme.
Another major attraction is the return of Pat Metheny, who will undertake a two-day Barbican residency on 18 and 19 July with his Side-Eye III+ project. Spread across three performances, the residency marks one of the centrepieces of this year’s Summer Jazz Series.
The programme also features pianist and composer RIOPY (4 June, Cadogan Hall), British singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé (6 June, Barbican), Italian vocalist Mario Biondi (7 June, Theatre Royal Drury Lane), Katie Melua (17 July, Union Chapel), and Stacey Kent, who will perform two consecutive evenings at Cadogan Hall on 16 and 17 July.
With this summer programme, Serious begins the countdown to the EFG London Jazz Festival 2026, whose line-up continues to expand with new productions, collaborations and artists from around the world.
