The placement of names on the 2026 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival talent announcement isn't random.
Where a name appears on that top-down list is often negotiated between the marquee acts’ representatives and the festival.
The first three, and thus most prominent, names on the 2026 announcement — officially unveiled Thursday after a draft version leaked the previous day — are classic rock Jazz Fest veterans: the Eagles, Stevie Nicks and Rod Stewart.
The fourth name hails from a different generation of arena rock, but has also previously played the Fair Grounds: Kings of Leon.
After Kings of Leon, the Jazz Fest lineup list pivots to fresh faces, including a tattooed one.
Teddy Swims, the Georgia native with a fondness for upper body ink, first earned a following via YouTube

The Advocate

WDSU New Orleans
Rolling Stone
KLCC
Arizona Republic
WTOP
NHL
NBC News
The Atlantic
AlterNet
NBC Sports NFL