Musical virtuoso Wynton Marsalis, the co-founder of Jazz at Lincoln Center, will step down as leader of the organization at the end of the 2026-27 season, according to an announcement.
The news comes one year shy of Marsalis’ 40th anniversary at the New York institution, which has brought many of the world’s finest musicians to Manhattan's Lincoln Center, which also houses the Metropolitan Opera, New York Philharmonic, New York City Ballet, and Juilliard. Marsalis has served as artistic and managing director at JALC throughout its existence.
“When we established Jazz at Lincoln Center in 1987, 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, and I am proud of the tremendous progress we’ve made,” said Marsalis.
“It is time for new leadership to take the institution to even higher ground. We are rich in emerging, extremely talented, capable, and inspired musicians and advocates. I’m very confident about the future.”
Jazz at Lincoln Center announced today that, after nearly 40 years of visionary leadership, @wyntonmarsalis will transition from his current role at JALC. https://t.co/gZ1stTmFj2
— Jazz at Lincoln Center (@jazzdotorg) January 29, 2026
Founded in 1987, JALC was envisioned as an outlet to fill space in the Lincoln Center’s programming, though the jazz genre was at first seen as too disruptive by certain powerful leaders. Marsalis was seen as a compromise pick to start a summer jazz series there while steering clear of too adventurous a musical or cultural oeuvre.
For his part, Marsalis—ever a jazz purist—was descended from jazz royalty in his father, the New Orleans musical legend Ellis Marsalis, and had built up a reputation for himself as a masterful trumpeter and composer of particularly traditional jazz. For his first offering at what would eventually become JALC, the Catholic-raised Marsalis composed a series inspired by New Orleans funeral dirges that saw success with New York audiences, leading to a permanent gig.
Marsalis also leads the organization’s band, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, which has performed thousands of concerts around the world, anchored by its regular shows in the Rose Hall at Lincoln Center with various special guests. They have regularly released recordings of their music, beginning in 1992 with “Portraits by Ellington.”
Marsalis and JALC have also worked to promote the continuance of the genre with their Let Freedom Swing program in elementary schools, the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition, and the National Collegiate Jazz Championship. The organization annually honors jazz legends in the Ertegun Jazz Hall of Fame and jazz figures more broadly with the JALC Gala Awards.
Despite criticisms of its perceived focus on older forms of jazz, Marsalis and the JLCO have won a Pulitzer Prize—the first for jazz—and have branched into various jazz fusions, including with the Grammy Award-nominated Latin jazz album “Una Noche con Rubén Blades” in 2018. Musicians from the JLCO were also featured on the Grammy-winning “Presidential Suite: Eight Variations on Freedom” from member Ted Nash in 2017.
“Wynton is among the greatest and most versatile jazz musicians and band leaders of all time who has taken performing, composing and programming to new heights, and it is with immense gratitude that we recognize his immeasurable contributions to JALC and the art of jazz,” said Clarence Otis Jr., chairman of the JALC board.
“Wynton dared to imagine a world in which jazz is a widely experienced and celebrated art form and has worked tirelessly for most of his life to make that dream a reality. He has also been deeply committed to educating and nurturing new generations of jazz musicians, ensuring that his unique and singular brand will be carried forward.”
According to a press release, the 64-year-old Marsalis will step down as JALC’s artistic director in July 2027, remaining as an advisor through June 2028 and continuing to perform with the band “on occasion.” He will remain on the organization’s board in perpetuity, providing “institutional memory and insight, but not oversight.”
An official search has begun for Marsalis’ successor, and JALC says its upcoming season leadership will function as an “international celebration of Mr. Marsalis’ iconic career and indelible influence and contributions.” The schedule for the concerts is scheduled to be released this month.
Nate Tinner-Williams is co-founder and editor of Black Catholic Messenger.
