The 10th Annual St. George Jazz Festival will take place January 30–31, 2026, bringing two days of live jazz, student performances, competitions, and educational programming to St. George. The showcase concert takes place Saturday, January 31 at 7:30 PM at the Desert Hills High School Auditorium.
The featured guest artist for the 2026 festival is alto saxophonist Miguel Zenón, backed by the Rebel Jazz Band. Tickets for the showcase concert are available at stgeorgejazz.com.
A Grammy winner, Doris Duke Artist, and Guggenheim and MacArthur Fellow, Zenón represents a select group of musicians who have masterfully balanced innovation and tradition. Widely considered one of the most influential saxophonists and composers of his generation, he has developed a distinctive voice by blending jazz with a broad range of musical influences.
When selecting guest artists, festival organizers seek musicians with strong credentials and high visibility. Artistic Director Glenn Webb said Zenón was at the top of the list as a Grammy winner, noting that he was later nominated for a 2026 Grammy as well. After performing in St. George on Saturday night, Zenón will travel to Los Angeles for the Sunday afternoon Grammy Awards ceremony in the jazz category.
Zenón has presented hundreds of lectures and master classes worldwide and is a faculty member in the Music & Theater Arts Department at MIT. He will also present a free clinic for festival participants and the community at 12:30 PM on Saturday at Desert Hills High School.
Student musicians selected from participating schools will appear during the showcase concert, and high school and middle school bands from Las Vegas to Logan will perform throughout the day on Saturday as part of the adjudicated festival.
The festival opens Friday, January 30, with a high school jazz combo competition hosted by the St. George Jazz All-Stars, who will also perform at 7:30 PM. This free concert takes place in the Concert Hall at the Eccles Fine Arts Center on the Utah Tech campus.
The mission of the St. George Jazz Festival is to preserve, perpetuate, and foster appreciation for jazz music through concerts, festivals, and educational opportunities in Southern Utah and surrounding areas.
Desert Hills High School is located at 828 Desert Hills Dr. E, St. George. Parking is free, and the auditorium is ADA compliant.
