ENSEMBLE ARTS PHILLY PRESENTS
JAZZ LEGEND HERBIE HANCOCK,
AT THE KIMMEL CENTER,
JULY 29, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (May 18, 2026) – Ensemble Arts Philly proudly presents jazz icon Herbie Hancock for one extraordinary evening in Marian Anderson Hall inside the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at 7:30 p.m., as part of the 2025- 26 Jazz Series.

Now in the seventh decade of his professional life, Herbie Hancock remains where he has always been: at the forefront of world culture, technology, business and music. He has been an integral part of every popular music movement since the 1960s, and as a member of the Miles Davis Quintet that pioneered a groundbreaking sound in jazz, he also developed new approaches on his own recordings, followed by his work in the 70s with record-breaking albums such as Headhunters that combined electric jazz with funk and rock in an innovative style that continues to influence contemporary music. Rockit and Future Shock marked Hancock's foray into electronic dance sound; during the same period, he also continued to work in an acoustic setting with V.S.O.P.

Hancock received an Academy Award for his Round Midnight film score and 14 Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year for River: The Joni Letters, and two 2011 Grammy Awards for the globally collaborative CD, The Imagine Project.

He serves as Creative Chair for Jazz for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association and as Institute Chairman of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz. In 2011 Hancock was named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, and in December 2013, received a Kennedy Center Honor. His memoir, Herbie Hancock: Possibilities, was published by Viking in 2014, and in February 2016 he was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

“Ensemble Arts’ annual jazz season is a tangible reflection of our commitment to bringing world-class artists to Philadelphia audiences and supporting the evolution and continued growth of jazz as a quintessentially American art form,” said Frances Egler, Vice President of Theatrical Programming and Presentations. “An artist whose talent has been on display for more than seventy years, Herbie Hancock returns to our stage to close out our 2025–26 season series.”

The Herbie Hancock show is the last performance of Ensemble Arts Philly’s 2025–26 Jazz Series.

Ensemble Arts Philly’s 2026–27 Jazz Series includes: Jeff Goldblum and The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra (October 7, 2026); Lakecia Benjamin (October 22, 2026); The 8-Bit Big Band (October 24, 2026); Juan de Marcos & The Afro-Cuban All Stars (October 30, 2026); The Bad Plus Farewell Tour (November 14, 2026); Pink Martini All Stars presents A Season of Stars (December 14, 2026); Sullivan Fortner Trio (February 13, 2027) Gregory Porter (February 15, 2027) Ambrose Akinmusire (February 25, 2027); Yasmin Williams with the Dream Quartet (April 3, 2027); and Django Festival Allstars (May 14, 2027).

Tickets
Tickets can be purchased online at www.ensembleartsphilly.org, by calling 215-893-1999, or in person at the Academy of Music Box Office (240 S. Broad Street) daily from 10 a.m.–6 p.m. For more information, visit www.ensembleartsphilly.org. 

VIP Experience
•   One (1) Premium reserved ticket to see Herbie Hancock live in concert *Premium Reserved tickets in the first 10 rows of the venue 
•   Invitation to attend the closing moments of Herbie Hancock's soundcheck before the show featuring:
          o  An intimate Q&A with Herbie Hancock
          o  One (1) exclusive Herbie Hancock merchandise gift
          o  Early venue entry
          o  On-site event concierge

Herbie Hancock
Marian Anderson Hall inside the Kimmel Center
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
7:30 p.m.

# # #   

ABOUT ENSEMBLE ARTS PHILLY
For more information about ENSEMBLE ARTS PHILLY, visit www.ensembleartsphilly.org.     

# # #     

For photography, please visit www.ensembleartsphilly.smugmug.com.


Click here for a PDF version of this press release.