Festival of New Trumpet Music (FONT Music) Announces its 24th Season
The Festival of New Trumpet Music (FONT Music) announces its 24th season, running September 14–20, 2026 with performances and educational events across New York City, Brooklyn, Jersey City, and online.
Founded in 2003 by trumpeters Dave Douglas and Roy Campbell Jr., FONT Music is the world’s leading presenter dedicated exclusively to new trumpet music, supporting adventurous artists expanding the trumpet’s possibilities through jazz, improvised music, contemporary composition, electronics, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. This year’s festival brings together an international community of established innovators and emerging voices, highlighting the remarkable diversity of approaches shaping the instrument today.
“This year feels more than ever like new music unfolding along a continuum. We are proud to include so many musicians who have never played at the Festival of New Trumpet Music before, creating music for the trumpet that has never been heard before. The music keeps growing, and so does our instrument. After 23 years, from our humble beginnings with Roy Campbell and a cocktail napkin, it’s still exciting that this festival continues to surprise and delight, making a platform for endless new areas of innovation.”
— Dave Douglas, artistic director
A centerpiece of the 2026 festival will be the presentation of FONT Music’s Award of Recognition to legendary trumpeter, composer, educator, and cultural visionary Ahmed Abdullah on September 15 at The New School. Following the award presentation, Abdullah will lead a public master class, offering audiences and young musicians a rare opportunity to engage with one of the most influential figures in creative music.
