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International Jazz Day is celebrated worldwide on April 30^th and London is excited to take a lead role in the creation of the UNESCO Cities of Music International Jazz Day Relay video montage. This year the Jazz Day Relay features 11 distinct performances from cities across the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) showcasing their unique take on an original composition, “April in Jerusalem” by Samer Rashed of Ramallah UNESCO City of Music.  The collaborative process behind this relay creates a diverse project that amplifies what it means to be a UNESCO City of Music.

Bringing a modern approach to the 2026 Jazz Day Relay, the project has expanded incorporating elements of hip-hop and spoken word. This deliberate step reduces barriers to participating and expands the video to a more diverse audience.  With each city having their unique style shining through in both video composition and musical interpretation the 2026 Jazz Day Relay continues to grow and evolve as a unifying project for the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). London played a key role in supporting the vision of the project by leading the production, editing, mixing and final curation of the video. The 2026 Jazz Day Relay now incorporates multiple creative fields of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network including Film, Media Arts, Literature and Music.  

The songs composer, Samer Rashed notes, “this piece is intended to take you on a journey in the alleys of the old city of Jerusalem and show you the beauty and magic that lie in every detail of this city.”  About the spirit of the song Rashad states, “The heart of this work lies in positivity, hope, and renewal — showing how people can find strength, beauty, and light even when faced with challenges.”

April in Jerusalem was featured on Samer's second album "Tales of the Gypsy Jazz", released in May 2019.

Each year the Jazz Relay prioritizes one Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) as a theme to help connect performances around the world, and to develop awareness of music to advance sustainable cities and communities. This year we focus on SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. By amplifying diverse voices and utilizing a collaborative process, the project reflects the core values of peace and inclusion.

London is excited to help create, promote and share this ongoing project as part of a broader network of cities and looks forward to its continued evolution.

Participating Cities:
1. Adelaide, Australia
2. Daegu, South Korea
3. Ghent, Belgium
4. Glasgow, Scotland
5. Kansas City, USA
6. Katowice, Poland
7. Leiria, Portugal
8. Llíria, Spain
9. Norrköping, Sweden
10. Seattle, USA
11. Xalapa, Mexico
12. Ramallah, Palestine (composition)
13. London, Canada (production of the montage video)