After an unfortunate weather-forced pause of the Duck Jazz Festival last year, the Town of Duck is bringing the music back – and then some.
The Duck Jazz Festival returns October 10 and 11 at Duck Town Park for its 16th anniversary. The theme ““Jazz Reignited,” promises a high- energy weekend of live music by renowned jazz musicians and a whole lot more.
If anything, the unexpected cancellation in 2025 only turned up the volume on anticipation.
“The cancellation of the 2025 Duck Jazz Festival brings a striking energy and excitement to the 2026 event,” says Kay Nickens, public information and events director for the Town of Duck. “The community has rallied around what the Duck Jazz Festival means for not just the town but for the Outer Banks as a whole.”
That buzz has translated into a surge of new interest and a renewed sense of purpose for this year’s event.
“It’s about sparking, reigniting and coming back and leveraging that anticipation,” Nickens says.
The headliner is Tito Puente, Jr., Billboard Award-winning Latin jazz artist and son of the legendary Tito Puente. He will close out the main stage on Sunday night and stick around to host a Latin jazz masterclass for local high school band students — a full-circle moment that blends performance with mentorship. And if you want to know how to move and groove on the lawn in the traditional Latin way, the Town of Duck will be hosting a salsa dance lesson the week before the festival.
The lineup hits all the right notes, with performances by Shayna Steele, Gerald Veasley, Brass Queens and more, along with a hometown highlight from the First Flight High School Honors Jazz Band.
And the festival isn’t just a weekend affair. The days leading up to the main event are filled with jazzy yoga sessions, kids’ story time and rhythm play and even a movie night on the green featuring Sing. There’s also an acoustic jazz evening featuring Devin Frazier and Laura Martier.
Whether you’re a lifelong jazz fan or just looking for an excuse to spread out a blanket and soak in the sounds, this year’s Duck Jazz Festival is shaping up to be well worth the wait.
2026 Duck Jazz Festival Events
Thursday, October 8
6 p.m. | Amphitheatre Stage Salsa Dancing Class led by Celeste Osorio
Friday, October 9
9 a.m. | Paul F. Keller Meeting Hall Children’s Jazz Story Time and Rhythm Play Sunset | Town Green Movie on the Green presented by Carolina Designs Realty: Sing
Saturday, October 10
4 p.m. | Town Green Jazz Weekend Kickoff Concert featuring Adam Hawley 7 p.m. | The Back Bar at The Blue Point Live Jam with festival musicians
Sunday, October 11
10 a.m. Gates Open | 11 a.m. Music Starts
Main Stage
11 a.m. Gerald Veasley
1:10 p.m. Shayna Steele
3:25 p.m. Brass Queens
5:25 p.m. Tito Puente, Jr.
Amphitheatre Stage
12:10 p.m. First Flight High School Honors Jazz Band
2:20 p.m. David Esleck Trio ft. Jordan Garrett
4:30 p.m. The Hot Lanes with Bobby Jasinski
About the Author Maggie Miles
Maggie Miles is originally from the Outer Banks. She moved to Palm Springs in 2023 to work as an on-call reporter for the New York Times. Her portfolio includes contributions to The Times, BBC, MSN and many other media outlets. During her career, she has focused on a wide range of topics, including workplace corruption, gun violence, social justice, the environment, arts, health and wellness, travel and in-depth profiles of notable people and businesses.
