International Jazz Day is celebrated on April 30th every year. According to the website “International Jazz Day,” it is a global event that recognizes the critical role that jazz music plays in building peace, unity, and understanding between cultures. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) created this day in 2011.

Every year, a city is chosen to be a Global Host of International Jazz Day. This year, Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, a UNESCO Creative City of Music, has been named the Global Host City for International Jazz Day in 2025. Beginning with the All-Star Global Concert on April 30 at Etihad Arena, the region’s largest indoor concert building, the city will provide a five-week run of jazz concerts, educational activities, and community events. According to UNESCO’s website, this will be led by a famous musician, Herbie Hancock, and this event will showcase an exceptional roster of renowned jazz, blues, classical, and hip-hop musicians from all over the world.

International Jazz Day is celebrated in more than 190 countries. Activities include live performances, workshops, masterclasses, jam sessions, and community outreach programs, all highlighting jazz’s role in uniting people across cultures. According to the website “New Orleans Jazz Museum,” to celebrate the city’s rich jazz past, the New Orleans Jazz Museum, for example, organizes an annual International Jazz Day Festival that includes performances, educational events, and local and international musicians.

The style of music unites European musical elements, like harmony and equipment,, with African musical traditions, including rhythm, improvisation, and call-and-response patterns.

Here are some opinions on Jazz from people Hoover: Mr. Estal said, “Music wouldn’t be the same without jazz.”

Andrea Valadez (27) said, “Jazz never sounds the same because you’re listening to many different notes.”

Ellen Hunanyan (27): “Jazz is a unique genre of music. While it sounds amazing, it is very hard to sing.”

As UNESCO notes, jazz captures the world’s differences, simply crossing borders and bringing people and cultures closer together. By celebrating this art form, we not only honor its rich history but also embrace its ability to develop one another’s understanding and global harmony. International Jazz Day serves as a reminder of jazz’s powerful influence on cultural expression.