First wave of artist Curaçao North Sea Jazz 2026

The first artists for the upcoming edition have been announced. In September, we will welcome Gente de Zona, Rubén Blades Fotografías Tour with Roberto Delgado Big Band, Toto, Kassav' and Jon Batiste. More line-up news will follow soon.

Put your dancing shoes on, because Gente de Zona is coming to Curaçao. The Cuban reggaeton duo, Alexander Delgado and Randy Malcom Martínez, gained global recognition with Enrique Iglesias on the smash hit Bailando, earning a Latin Grammy and worldwide success. They went on to collaborate with major artists including Pitbull and Marc Anthony, with whom they scored their biggest hit La Gozadera, often described as “Latin America’s official anthem.”

Rubén Blades is a composer, vocalist and one of the world’s most successful Latin artists. Known for his socially engaged lyrics and ‘thinking man’s’ salsa, often blending jazz and rock, he has won numerous Grammy Awards. For his latest album Fotografías (2025), he reunites with the Roberto Delgado Big Band, long-time collaborators. The new material is built for an energetic live performance.

Formed in 1977, American band Toto will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year. Blending pop, rock, soul and jazz, they built a global fanbase. The band has released 14 studio albums, sold over 50 million records and won multiple Grammy Awards. Their catalog includes classics like Africa, Hold The Line and Rosanna. Today, Toto is led by Steve Lukather and Joseph Williams.

Jon Batiste is a singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist with eight Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year for We Are (2021). He has collaborated with artists such as Prince, Stevie Wonder and Willie Nelson, and spent years as bandleader on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. His genre-spanning sound blends gospel, soul, pop and rock, showcased on his latest album Big Money (2025).

Founded in 1979, Kassav’ pioneered zouk, an Afro-Caribbean style rooted in Guadeloupe’s gwo-ka and Martinique’s ti-bwa. The band gained worldwide popularity and has toured internationally since the 1980s. With over twenty albums and numerous gold and platinum records, Kassav’ remains a defining force in Caribbean music.