Manhattan’s NoMad neighborhood is about to get a full week of jazz, with major performers, family programming and a new food market folded into the summer calendar. The second annual NoMad Jazz Festival begins this Sunday and builds toward two free days of concerts in Madison Square Park next weekend.
The community-driven festival opens with pop-up performances and neighborhood events across NoMad and Flatiron, running through Thursday, according to PIX11. The centerpiece arrives next Friday and Saturday, when the Mainstage takes over Madison Square Park with free performances open to the public.
A Ticketed Kickoff Leads Into Free Park Concerts
The opening-night highlight is a 5 p.m. performance by the Michael Leonhart Orchestra at Rizzoli Bookstore, playing selections from Leonhart’s Miles Davis Suite alongside music honoring John Coltrane, according to the festival’s official calendar. That event is ticketed, a useful distinction for anyone assuming every part of the weeklong program is a walk-up concert.
For the main event, Madison Square Park Conservancy says the festival will occupy the park’s Oval Lawn next Friday and Saturday, with performances scheduled from noon into the evening. The Conservancy describes the weekend as the culmination of a broader neighborhood celebration produced with The NoMad Alliance, The Jazz Gallery and the Flatiron NoMad Partnership.
The Mainstage Lineup Runs From John Ellis To José James
Friday’s schedule starts at noon with John Ellis & Double-Wide, followed by Ben Wendel at 6 p.m. and vocalist José James at 8 p.m., according to the festival lineup. It is a bill that moves from an afternoon ensemble set into a pair of evening performances with plenty of marquee appeal.
Saturday brings an even denser run of performances: Godwin Louis at noon, Yuhan Su at 2 p.m., Jaleel Shaw with special guest Camille Thurman at 4 p.m., George Cables at 6 p.m. and The Jazz Gallery All-Stars featuring Renée Neufville at 8 p.m. The day also includes a morning swing-along, a student master class ensemble and dance-and-music workshops, giving families and younger listeners a reason to arrive before the headliners.
A Broadway Food Market Joins The Festival This Year
New this year, the Flatiron NoMad Partnership will host an outdoor food market next Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. on Broadway between 23rd and 24th streets, adjacent to Madison Square Park, according to the official food market page. Vendors are expected to include neighborhood favorites such as BLACKBARN, Eataly, Tacombi, Avo, Bear Donut and Brown Bag Sandwich Co., while the original Shake Shack in the park will offer food, beer and wine throughout the weekend.
The festival is also trying to become more than a single August booking. In its 2026 announcement, the NoMad Alliance said the inaugural festival drew tens of thousands of visitors and increased neighborhood foot traffic by 44%, while a new year-round concert series will extend the organization’s programming beyond festival week.
What To Know Before You Go
The Mainstage concerts do not require tickets, and lawn seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis, according to the festival’s visitor FAQ. Bring a blanket, plan for an early arrival if you want a prime patch of grass and expect the sort of summer park decision that starts with “I’ll stay for one set” and ends several hours later.
