The 35th Annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest in Reading keeps growing.

This year, the 10-day festival at four major venues has 40 major and 80 local concerts, more than 100 musicians, with 20,000 ticket-holders expected.

“It is very unique. There are no other jazz festivals like it,” says Berks Arts Executive Director Tish Davis.

Berks Arts, Reading, founded as Berks Arts Council in 1969, presents the Jazz Fest, March 19-29.

Performers for the 2026 Fest include the Yellowjackets, Gerald Veasley, Pieces of a Dream, Chris Botti, Emmet Cohen Quintet, Boney James, Spyro Gyra, Eric Benet, Stanley Jordan, Will Downing, Regina Belle, Maysa, Najee, Vincent Ingala, Ravi Coltrane, Marcus Miller and Rick Braun.

Many of the artists are Berks Fest regulars.

The Fest has four major venues: Scottish Rite Cathedral, Miller Center for the Arts, and the Grand Ballroom and Small Ballroom of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel.

Other concerts are at the Peanut Bar Restaurant, Reading, and the Highlands at Wyomissing Retirement Community. There are free concerts at rooms and lounges in the DoubleTree.

“Smooth jazz is still the most popular form here, but we try to make things diverse, including traditional, big band, and straight-ahead jazz. And we give new artists opportunities in smaller venues,” Davis says in a phone interview.

Straight-ahead jazz is an acoustic-based form that tends to be mainstream and lean away from fusion and rock influences.

The Fest presents musicians and singers influenced by blues, R&B and neo-soul. In had been called the Berks Blues and Jazz Festival.

The education component of the Jazz Fest is getJazzed. The Reading Musical Foundation Jazz Jam is March 23. There are Jazz Horizon Jams when students can learn and play with music clinicians.

Berks County students are from 16 high school and colleges. The Berks High School All-Star Jazz Band opens for the Last Big Band, March 24, and the Berks Sinfonietta, March 28.

The Jazz Fest was originally a three-day festival.

“This year, we wanted a special celebration for the anniversary by doing something new,” says Davis.

“This April is Jazz Appreciation Month all over the country. The Jazz Fest normally goes into April, but this year it ends in March.

“So, we wanted to continue with extra events until the end of the month. They include schools and churches that are not always part of the Fest,” Davis says.

The “BJF35 Jam Celebration” has 33 additional jazz events at 22 venues in Berks County, including “An Evening of Jazz Percussion with Gary Burton,” April 7, Kutztown University, and Rick Braun playing the songs of Chuck Mangione, April 30, “International Jazz Day,” Miller Center for the Arts, Reading.

There are three jazz jams led by Gerald Veasley, and a Chuck Loeb Memorial All-Star Jam, dedicated to the late guitarist.

Berks Arts sponsors the annual “Frank Scott Memorial Art Show: The Art of Jazz,” named after the late local saxophone player, March 9 - April 2, Schmidt Gallery, GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, Reading.

“Students and adults from all over the country send in artwork, which can include paintings, photographs, sculpture or other media, chosen by a juror,” says Davis.

The art will be on display April 5 - April 14 at the DoubleTree.

35th annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest information: https://www.berksjazzfest.com/