This Was North Sea Round Town 2026: A Summer to Remember
English – Let’s switch to Nederlands
North Sea Round Town has come to an end, and we look back on this 21st edition with so much love. For two and a half weeks, summertime Rotterdam was once again buzzing with live music, bringing together more than 139.500 jazz lovers, curious shoppers, enthusiastic musical-chair dancers, music-loving café crowds, grooving public transport passengers and many, many more.
People danced, laughed and listened, and throughout the city we felt the power of live music to bring people together. ❤️
A huge and heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us, helped out, performed or contributed in any way. We hope to see you again next year! North Sea Round Town 2027 will take place from 24 June to 11 July.
Want to relive it all?
Watch the North Sea Round Town 2026 recap here. The full programme will be available in our online calendar from mid-May.
North Sea Round Town 2026 at a Glance
Faroffa by Dietrich van Gobbel
From the opening in the Laurenskerk to live music in the metro, on the streets, by the sea and in every corner of Rotterdam. There is simply no way to experience everything North Sea Round Town has to offer. So we have rounded up a selection of highlights for you.
Opening Concert: RUNA BECOMES SUN
Runa Becomes Sun by Eric van Nieuwland
As tradition has it, North Sea Round Town 2026 opened with a special concert created especially for the festival by an exceptional artist. On Thursday 25 June, Ibelisse Guardia Ferragutti’s ensemble AWICHAS presented RUNA BECOMES SUN: an immersive multimedia experience in which sound, space and storytelling came together within the extraordinary acoustics of the Laurenskerk.
Phase Shift – A Sonic Collision of Seoul and Rotterdam: Artist in Focus 2026
Chaerin Im by Eric van Nieuwland
This year’s Artist in Focus was the remarkable Chaerin Im! During her residency, she boldly ventured in a new direction, moving from her roots in jazz piano and the Korean classical piano scene towards an electronic, synth-driven sound that refuses to be pinned down to a single genre. She made a powerful impression with the premiere of her main project, Phase Shift – A Sonic Collision of Seoul and Rotterdam, which she created especially for North Sea Round Town. The premiere took place on 2 July at Cineac, which welcomed audiences for a one-off North Sea Round Town event after having been closed for years.
Rotterdam’s Femme in Focus 2026: Jèryh Luz
Jèryh Luz at Jazz op de Meent by Dietrich van Gobbel
This year’s Femme in Focus was Jèryh Luz! During her residency, she took the time to transform everything she had in mind into new music, together with a new band. And she certainly succeeded. On 27 June, she gave a stunning premiere of her new work at Boerderij Driebergen, before going on to perform across Rotterdam in a variety of line-ups.
Opening Neighbourhood Concerts with the Miss Marjorie Quintet
Miss Marjorie Quintet door Maarten Laupman
Mahogany Trio door Hielke Grootendorst
Miss Marjorie Quintet by Maarten Laupman
With our Neighbourhood Concerts, we travelled across Rotterdam, bringing live music to community centres and residential care homes. Warm, up close and open to everyone. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of NN North Sea Jazz, this year’s concert series kicked off on 25 June with a festive XL edition. The swinging Miss Marjorie Quintet performed at Humanitas Bergweg, with cakes and sweet treats for everyone.
Concert Diner – NSRT op de Kaap: Chaerin Im x Pocha “Midnight Resets”
Chaerin Im “Midnight Resets” by Hielke Grootendorst
For her final performance as our Artist in Focus during North Sea Round Town, Chaerin Im took us on the journey of her move from Korea to Rotterdam. She celebrated both her roots and Rotterdam’s Asian community, joined by South Korean musician Sunstroll, with delicious Korean drinking food by Pocha Rotterdam and tunes by DJ Lucas Sim. It all came together at the spectacular FENIX, Rotterdam’s art museum dedicated to stories of migration.
Jazzhaven: Live Music in the Heart of Historic Delfshaven
Jazzhaven by Dietrich van Gobbel
There is nothing quite like Jazzhaven on a summer’s day in picturesque Historic Delfshaven! On 4 July, we enjoyed an entire afternoon and evening of live music, with 22 concerts across 11 different venues. Highlights included wonderful performances by Reginald Somai & Albert Richters, Lydia Stavraki Duo and Veerle van der Wal & Evan van der Feen. The programme had it all: from intimate concerts by our Femme in Focus to unexpected crossovers, with jazz drifting from historic buildings and lively outdoor terraces.
The Biggest Musical Chairs Dance-Off at Afrikaanderpark
The Biggest Musical Chairs Dance-Off, by Hielke Grootendorst
An annual tradition, this time in a brand-new location! On 8 July, people of all ages gathered at Afrikaanderpark for the biggest live music musical chairs event in the Netherlands. They danced and competed right down to the very last chair, to the infectious sounds of De Nazaten.
Curious to see how it all unfolded? OPEN Rotterdam was there to capture the action!
Jazz op de Meent
Jazz op de Meent by Dietrich van Gobbel
On 9 July, the night before NN North Sea Jazz, the third edition of Jazz op de Meent took place. This year’s edition was extra special, as we celebrated the 50th anniversary of NN North Sea Jazz with no fewer than 50 concerts! It was an evening filled with great food, a lively atmosphere and live performances at 25 locations along the street. Shops and boutiques stayed open late for a special shopping night, allowing visitors to enjoy concerts as they browsed. The music continued throughout the NN North Sea Jazz weekend with a series of additional pop-up concerts. Highlights included Diana Dzhabbar & Brenn Luiten, Kriya Familia, Tallulah Rose and, of course, our Femme in Focus, Jèryh Luz!
Hoek van Holland by Bike
Hoek van Holland by Bike by Dietrich van Gobbel
A cycling route along the coast, but with a twist. On sunny Sunday 28 June, music lovers hopped on their bikes to enjoy performances by our Artist in Focus, Chaerin Im, and our Femme in Focus, Jèryh Luz, as well as Muziekvereniging Rotterdam Aan Zee, Ignacio Santoro & Emiliano Roca and the Amelie Spinks Duo. The route started at Museum Bunker iCOON, stopped at several locations along the way and finished on the sun-drenched terrace of Pele Surf Shack.
Jazz Rotterdam Centrum
Jazz Rotterdam Centrum by Maarten Laupman
Jazz Rotterdam Centrum by Hielke Grootendorst
During the closing weekend of North Sea Round Town, Rotterdam city centre came alive with live music along an extended musical route through the city’s main shopping district. Throughout the weekend, open-air performances filled some of Rotterdam’s most iconic shopping streets and squares, including Central Plaza, Kruiskade/Lijnbaan, Koopgoot, Hoogstraat, WTC/Meent and Binnenwegplein. Whether you were strolling through the city, out shopping or relaxing on a terrace, there was swinging jazz and soulful music to enjoy around every corner, with performances by Rosana Brown & Nelson Latif, Kiki & Joy, Marcelo Godoy & Ana Beck and many more.
Assia Brass Bénin on Nieuwe Binnenweg
Assia Brass Bénin by Maarten Laupman
On Saturday 11 July, the businesses of Nieuwe Binnenweg joined forces with North Sea Round Town to celebrate the 50th anniversary of NN North Sea Jazz. The seven-piece brass band Assia Brass Bénin made its way from ’s-Gravendijkwal to Lage Erfbrug and back again. Nieuwe Binnenweg, loved for its vibrant mix of shops, cafés, terraces and cultures, provided the perfect backdrop for an afternoon filled with live music.
Young Talent Stage Rotterdam Central Station
The Jungle Jazz Band by Hielke Grootendorst
During the closing weekend, Rotterdam Centraal was transformed into a vibrant live music venue: the Young Talent Stage. For three days, travellers, visitors and passers-by were treated to fresh energy and exciting new sounds from artists including Helene Rust, Amélie Esmée, Lina Mos and aron! The Young Talent Stage was presented in collaboration with Cult North, House of Knowledge, Music Matters and NN North Sea Jazz
A Party on Public Transport with RET Metro Melodies
Bajonet Brass Band by Hielke Grootendorst
During the closing weekend of North Sea Round Town, there was a good chance you would stumble across a concert when you least expected it. Even the metro came alive with swinging live music. Throughout the entire weekend, the six-piece Bajonet Brass Band performed on board the metro and at stations along the route between Rotterdam Centraal and NN North Sea Jazz at Ahoy.
Live Music Across Rotterdam with the Open Call
Boogie Ball by Hielke Grootendorst
FAROFFA by Dietrich van Gobbel
Every year, we launch an Open Call, and once again this year it showed just how much creativity Rotterdam has to offer. Thanks to the selected artists and makers, the city became a stage for three weeks, with innovative concerts, performances, workshops, jam sessions and other musical encounters taking place in every corner of Rotterdam. Highlights included Rotterdam jazz-fusion band Ħoss Project, the second edition of FAROFFA, the art installation Endless Poetry and Summer Steijn Jazz with Laura Drion, Daniel Bulatkin & Ian Cleaver.
And to close it all in style: the official NN North Sea Jazz afterparty, Boogie Ball at BIRD, presented in collaboration with BIRD, NN North Sea Jazz and North Sea Round Town.
SAVE THE DATE
Jazz op de Meent by Dietrich van Gobbel
We can’t wait until next year! In the meantime, there are still two rescheduled concerts to look forward to, after they had to be postponed due to the heatwave:
- PAX the Humanoid LIVE has been rescheduled for 18 September.
- The Neighbourhood Concert with Firma 010 has been rescheduled for 8 October.
Mark your calendar: North Sea Round Town 2027 will take place from 24 June to 11 July.
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A huge and heartfelt thank you for joining us, contributing and being part of North Sea Round Town.
SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!
