10 Artists to Look Out for in 2026

When it comes to discovering the next wave of jazz innovators, nobody knows better than the people who live and breathe it every day—our SFJAZZ staff. We’ve curated a list of 10 artists we believe will define the sound of 2026.

Start with pianist‑producer Kiefer, rising talent Dani Offline, bassist‑composer Sam Wilkes, and vibraphonist Sasha Berliner—and that’s just the beginning. There are plenty more names on our list you won’t want to miss.

These picks come straight from the SFJAZZ team—our personal recommendations for artists you need to know. Dive in, discover, and celebrate the sounds of tomorrow with SFJAZZ At Home.

SFJAZZ Staff Members (in order of appearance):

Victoria Verba (Senior Major Gifts Officer)

Kevin Tomlinson (Manager, Artistic Programming)

Sam Hale (Artistic Administrator)

Ayden Johnson (Artistic Assistant)

Briana Scales (Ensembles Manager, Education)

Nate Landry (Web Producer)

Justin Esposito (Content Strategist)

Rebeca Mauleon (Director, Education & Community Engagement)

Ross Eustis (Director of Digital)

Diego Munguia (Digital Projects Coordinator)