Wynton Marsalis, the legendary trumpeter and a massive influence in the jazz music scene, has announced he will be stepping down as the artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center after a tenure nearing four decades. According to BroadwayWorld, Marsalis will transition out of his leadership role over the next two and a half years.
Playing a crucial role in bringing jazz to the cultural forefront, Marsalis has been quoted as saying "our goal was to build an enduring jazz institution that would both entertain and educate by exposing multi-generational audiences to an often-overlooked aspect of American culture" in a statement obtained by CBS News New York. He's been credited with iconic projects such as the founding of the Frederick P. Rose Hall in 2004, jazz's first dedicated facility.
Marsalis, who has won nine Grammys and holds a Pulitzer Prize, will remain deeply involved with Jazz at Lincoln Center. After the 2026-27 season, where he will still function as the artistic director, Marsalis will serve in an advisory capacity as founder through June 2028, as reported by BroadwayWorld. Following the end of his contract, he will continue serving on the center's board.
With the responsibility to preserve Marsalis' legacy intact, Jazz at Lincoln Center has initiated the process to find his successors. A couple of special committees have been established, one to collaborate with Marsalis on identifying future artistic director candidates and another to lead the search for a new executive director following Greg Scholl's resignation in June, which CBS News New York detailed. By late spring, the new executive director should be appointed with the aim of identifying a new artistic director by fall of the same year.
The upcoming Jazz at Lincoln Center’s 2026-27 season will honor Marsalis's iconic career, set to be announced in February 2026. This celebration will mark an international acknowledgment of his contributions to the jazz world, and Marsalis is expected to remain active as a composer, performer, and educator within the institution. He will also occasionally perform with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and at select concerts, ensuring his vibrancy within the music community will persist, as BroadwayWorld emphasized.
