This multi-cultural festival is more than just a concert – it’s an event that will immerse you in cool jazz, soul, gospel, and the blues in DeLand, FL.

Hundreds of Central Florida jazz fans will flock to DeLand for the 2026 “Thin Man” Watts Jazz Fest at the Second Stage Theater, 600 N. Woodland Blvd., on Saturday, April 25 from 12 - 6:00 p.m.

Tickets are on sale now at www.wattsjazzfest.com for the 17th annual “Thin Man” Watts Jazz Fest, which honors DeLand native and renowned saxophonist Dr. Noble “Thin Man“ Watts. The 2026 Fest will feature four musical acts on Stetson University's Second Stage Theater. Additionally poetry, provide by Exodus United, a Central Florida based non-profit organization dedicated to serving at-risk youth through arts-and-education programs, will be spoken between the musical acts.

All proceeds from this year's event are dedicated to the African American Museum of the Arts in DeLand, which is recently finished constructing a much needed 3500 square foot expansion of its facility at 325 S. Clara Ave.

The annual Jazz Fest would not be possible without its sponsors: Judy Thompson, HapCo Music Youth Arts, Kemp Realty Group, Boulevard Tire Center, Advent Health – DeLand, Ken Goldberg Construction Co. LLC, Barb an Jeff Shepherd, Mainstreet Community Bank, Run4aCause. In-kind sponsors and other supporters are Stetson University, The West Volusia Beacon newspaper, west Volusia Tourism, Main Street DeLand Association, Songbird Studios, and Quality Quickprint.

Come on out to support some awesome Jazz musicians and take part in this great community event, rain or shine!