What started as a 40th anniversary celebration in 2025 is back and bigger than before. The Dakota jazz club announced its 2026 block party lineup, featuring gospel, jazz, soul, funk, blues, rock, big band, and more free music on September 26 from 2–10 p.m. on Nicollet Mall. But the fun doesn’t end there: Food trucks, a maker’s market, and family-friendly activities are also planned for the event, including the addition of the Quinlan Room this year, the Dakota’s new space located in the former Quinlan-Young department store building.
“It’s open, it’s free, it’s a tremendous range of music. It’s really a community event,” said Lowell Pickett, founder and co-owner of the Dakota.
This year’s lineup blends musical genres, but they share a common thread: theirTwin Cities connection, Pickett says. This is what excites him—not a particular artist, but the music itself bringing new voices to the forefront…