Press release on electing St Petersburg the capital of International Jazz Day in 2018
UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova endorsed the decision of the international jury to hold the seventh annual International Jazz Day, which will be celebrated all over the world on April 30, 2018. Eighteen countries vied for the right to host next year’s main Jazz Day events. The jury chose St Petersburg to be the capital of jazz in 2018, recognising Russia’s exclusive contribution to the development of this musical genre.
The 36th session of the UNESCO General Conference officially proclaimed International Jazz Day in November 2011. The aim of the celebrations is to enhance public awareness of the educational role of jazz in facilitating peace, unity, dialogue and human contacts. The first annual International Jazz Day was opened in Paris by UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock in 2012.
The 2018 celebrations will be organised by the St Petersburg Government and the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO. The project is headed by People’s Artist of Russia Igor Butman, a world-famous Russian saxophone player.