🎵 Bad Ass Jazz Festival 2026

The Bad Ass Jazz Festival returns in 2026 with another bold, creative, Afro-rooted and jazz-driven celebration in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

A festival where dancers from Swing, Afro, Street, Jazz, and vernacular Black dance traditions come together to share rhythm, movement, culture, and artistic expression.

The 2026 theme has not yet been officially announced, but the festival will once again focus on the roots of jazz, cultural storytelling, and the power of dance as a cross-community bridge.

(Note: The festival has not yet released full details for 2026, so the structure below reflects their traditional format and will be updated once official info is published.)

📅 Dates & Registration

Dates:

  • To be announced (traditionally held in October, likely October 2026)

Registration:

  • Will open once the official details are confirmed
  • Available via the festival’s website and social channels

Pass Options (expected categories):

  • Jam Starter: classes + parties
  • Kick Ass: intermediate level, extended classes + parties
  • BAZZ Pro: advanced training + all parties
  • Party Pass: evening parties only(Exact hours and structure to be confirmed)

📍 What & Where

City: Amsterdam, Netherlands 🇳🇱

Main Venue (expected):

  • KZ Hall – KNSM-Laan 311, a creative, spacious venue used in previous editions

Recommended Housing (previous edition):

  • StayOkay OOST Hostel (often offering festival discounts)

The event is known for its open, creative community, where expression, cultural exchange, and movement exploration are encouraged.

🎭 Activities & Highlights

(Provisional — based on the festival’s format and 2025 edition)

Dance Styles: Charleston, Jazz, Afro, Street / Club dance influences

Expected Highlights:

  • Cross-disciplinary workshops blending Jazz, Afro movement, Street Dance & Swing roots
  • Live music parties with jazz, Afro-Caribbean, and improvisational rhythms
  • Cultural sessions exploring jazz heritage, diasporic movement, and rhythmic storytelling
  • Fusion jams where dancers from multiple traditions inspire each other
  • Inclusive atmosphere welcoming movers from all styles and backgrounds

Live Music:

  • Bands for 2026 are not confirmed yet, but past editions featured acts such as:
    • Enric Peidro Swing Band
    • Mungo Bungo Band

Atmosphere:

Expressive, inclusive, cross-cultural, and full of rhythm — a unique space where jazz history, Afro movement, and modern dance traditions meet.

👣 Teachers

The 2026 teaching line-up is not yet announced.

Based on 2025, expect an international roster of educators rooted in:

  • Jazz & vernacular jazz
  • African diasporic movement
  • Afro-Caribbean expression
  • Street & club dance traditions
  • Cultural/historical storytelling

Previous instructors included:

  • Tyedric Hill (USA)
  • Breonna Jordan (USA)
  • Suela Wilsterman (NL/Suriname)
  • Noémie Tomasa (Guadeloupe/France)

A powerhouse team blending rhythm, history, identity, and freedom of movement.

🎟 Why You Should Come

Bad Ass Jazz is more than a festival — it’s a cultural movement.

  • A space where dancers connect jazz to its Afro-diasporic roots
  • Live music that moves, challenges, and inspires
  • Cross-style exchange (Swing x Afro x Street x Jazz)
  • A celebration of identity, rhythm, culture, and unapologetic expression
  • A welcoming community that values creativity, heritage, and authenticity

Three days that will transform how you dance, listen, feel… and move.

🪩 Quick Overview

  • Event: Bad Ass Jazz Festival 2026
  • Dates: To be announced (expected October 2026)
  • City: Amsterdam, Netherlands 🇳🇱
  • Main Venue: KZ Hall (to be confirmed)
  • Dance Styles: Jazz, Charleston, Afro, Street styles
  • Organised by: Bad Ass Jazz Team
  • Registration: Opens when official details are released
  • Passes: Jam Starter, Kick Ass, BAZZ Pro, Party Pass (TBA)
  • Website: badassjazzfestival.com (pending 2026 update)