⚜🎶🎉 Just Announced! The 2026 Café Istanbul Nightfest calendar is here!
New Orleans Comes Alive At Nightfest 4/23-5/3!
Relix VIP
February 17th, 2026
The intimate and great-sounding Café Istanbul is again thrilled to host the Café Istanbul Nightfest in New Orleans, and promises something amazing for all music fans during this year’s 11 incredible shows!
Café Istanbul is a true gem of New Orleans venues. In addition to being one of the best-sounding venues in the city, Café Istanbul boasts great lines of sight from anywhere in the club, and offers an unparalleled intimate experience. Come see and hear for yourself why world-class musicians love performing in — and music fans love attending — a fantastic-sounding concert space not much larger than their living rooms!
This year's lineup features musical explorations and celebrations including the return of the annual 2-night All-Star AXIAL TILT Grateful Dead celebration; Melvin Seals & JGB with Special Guests Donald Harrison Jr. and Robert Randolph; Fareed Haque; Butcher Brown Big Band with Special Guest Nigel Hall; Wil Blades & Friends; Garaj Mahal; NOLATET; Pimps Of Joytime; CURRENT FUTURES with Robert Walter, Stanton Moore, Will Bernard, Chris Stillwell and Skerik, and much more!
All shows will be livestreamed for folks who might want to check out the shows but can’t make it in person, with details to be posted within the next few weeks (check istanbulnightfest.com for updates).
Following are individual shows and a full calendar, and all show info and tickets are now available at istanbulnightfest.com
See y’all in New Orleans!
⚜🎶🎉
BUTCHER BROWN BIG BAND
With Special Guest Nigel Hall
Thursday, April 23
The 2026 Café Istanbul Nightfest kicks things off with the incredible Butcher Brown Big Band with Special Guest Nigel Hall!
AXIAL TILT
Friday, April 24 & Saturday, April 25
An All-Star 2-Night Celebration Of The Grateful Dead featuring some of the biggest names in the extended GD Family!
CURRENT FUTURES
Sunday, April 26
Hammond Organ and all-around Keyboard Master Robert Walter returns to Café Istanbul with an All-Star lineup of Current Futures to kick out the funky, jazzy jams!
NOLATET
Wednesday, April 29
New Orleans' own NOLATET wing their way back to the great-sounding, incredibly intimate Café Istanbul for THEIR ONLY SHOW DURING JAZZ FEST!
Wil Blades & Friends
Thursday, April 30
World-class organist Wil Blades and his world-class friends present a one night-only mashup of groovy funk, jazz and more!
MELVIN SEALS & JGB
Friday, May 1 + Saturday, May 2
Legendary Hammond B-3 powerhouse Melvin Seals & JGB kick out the jams for 2 rock-solid nights with Special Guests Donald Harrison Jr. (5/1) and Robert Randolph (5/2)!
PIMPS OF JOYTIME
Saturday, May 2 (Late)
Dig a roof-raising blowout with NOLA favorites Pimps Of Joytime in a ONE NIGHT ONLY funky party -- and album release show for "Magic Moves" -- you won't soon forget!
GARAJ MAHAL
Sunday, May 3
The Legendary GARAJ MAHAL presents a one-night-only sonic exploration of incredible proportions!
FAREED HAQUE TRIO
Sunday, May 3 (Late)
The 2026 Café Istanbul Nightfest comes to a close with one of the most anticipated lineups of the entire run!
More info for each show can be found at istanbulnightfest.com. The 2026 Café Istanbul Nightfest is sponsored by DEADSHOWZ.COM