Resurrected festival will bring wine and jazz to historic Kansas City district
The Missouri Wine & Jazz Festival went into hibernation after debuting in 2021, but it’s back for 2026.
“It’s returning to Kansas City,” festival president Mitchell Sudduth said, “that’s the tag I’ve been using.”
The event with daylong jazz performances and a large selection of wines will run July 11 and 12 in the historic 18th & Vine Jazz District, just blocks from the American Jazz Museum. The festival, being held in conjunction with the Mutual Musicians Foundation, will feature jazz/R&B pianist Brian Culbertson at 9 p.m. Saturday and saxophonist/flutist Najee at 6:45 p.m. Sunday as headliners.
Sudduth said the 2021 one-day Missouri Wine & Jazz Festival headlined by Samantha Fish attracted a crowd of nearly 3,000 at the Liberty Memorial. He’s hoping for three times that many over two days this year — perhaps with a boost from the thousands of visitors in Kansas City for the World Cup quarterfinal match at 8 p.m. Saturday.
“People will still be in town,” Sudduth said. “And what I’m expecting is that if they don’t show up on Saturday, they’ll be here on Sunday.”
Missouri Wine & Jazz Festival
When: 1-11 p.m. Saturday, July 11 (wine, 3-8 p.m.); noon-8 p.m. Sunday, July 12 (wine, 2-6:30 p.m.)
Where: On Paseo Boulevard between 18th Street and Truman Road in the 18th & Vine District
Tickets: $75 per day; non-taster pass, $35; VIP pass, $150
Parking: A new city parking garage at 1819 Lydia Avenue can accommodate up to 470 cars (fee charged). Free parking will be available at St. Stephen Baptist Church, 1414 Truman Road, and Zhou B Art Gallery, 1801 E. 18th St., as well as on streets throughout the 18th & Vine District.
Noteworthy:
- Artisan vendor booths and food trucks will be on site.
- Must be 21 to enter.
- Outside beverages will not be permitted.
- The first Missouri Wine & Jazz Festival was scheduled in 2020 but was canceled because of the pandemic.
Information: missouriwinejazzfest.com
