The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has announced its 2026 class of NEA Jazz Masters, recognizing four extraordinary individuals whose artistry, innovation and advocacy have helped shape the history and future of jazz.
The 2026 honorees are Carmen Lundy, Airto Moreira, Patrice Rushen and Rhonda Hamilton, recipient of the A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Award for Jazz Advocacy. The NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship is considered the nation’s highest honor for jazz artists and advocates.
A celebrated vocalist, composer, educator and visual artist, Carmen Lundy has built a remarkable career spanning more than four decades. Brazilian-born percussionist and composer Airto Moreira has been a groundbreaking force in jazz and Brazilian music, influencing generations of musicians with his innovative approach to rhythm and percussion. Patrice Rushen, the acclaimed pianist, composer, musical director and educator, has made an indelible impact across jazz, R&B, pop and film and television music.
And for those who understand the vital role of radio in preserving and promoting jazz, Rhonda Hamilton's recognition is especially meaningful. A pioneering jazz broadcaster, Hamilton helped shape the early days of WBGO-FM in Newark and has served as a trusted guide for generations of jazz listeners. She currently hosts a weekday jazz program on KKJZ-FM in Los Angeles.
Hamilton's honor is a powerful reminder that jazz advocacy extends beyond the stage. Broadcasters, educators, journalists, presenters and cultural institutions have played an essential role in keeping this uniquely American art form alive and accessible to new generations.
Since 1982, the NEA has recognized more than 180 living jazz legends through the Jazz Masters Fellowship, celebrating artists whose contributions have advanced the art form and enriched American culture.
The 2026 Jazz Masters will be celebrated during a free tribute concert on Tuesday, September 15 at 8pm at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
Click on the YouTube link below to watch.