The NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship awards $25,000 to living jazz musicians and advocates who have made exceptional contributions to jazz through vocal or instrumental performance, creative leadership, mentorship, education, or advocacy. Nominations are public and accepted online from September 15 to November 12, 2026. The fellowship includes a special award for jazz advocacy honoring major contributions to the appreciation and advancement of American jazz.
Nominees must be living U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Self-nominations are not accepted. Previous NEA lifetime honor recipients are ineligible, but National Medal of Arts recipients are eligible.
