A few months in, and certain albums have already settled in as records you return to without really thinking about it. This selection of the Best Jazz Albums of 2026 (so far) is simply about choosing what is certainly worth sitting with. Of course, time will tell. But for now, these albums have made a real impression; they have stayed with us, finding their way back onto our stereos again and again.
You will find a mix of directions and styles here. But each of these records, in its own way, is already making 2026 feel like a great year for jazz. We will be adding new releases as the months go by, and will share the final selection, as always, in early December.
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