“A collaboration that’s nothing short of extraordinary”: Pat Metheny, Al Di Meola and more of the biggest names in jazz and fusion are playing in London this year

Some of the biggest names in jazz, blues and fusion are set to perform across a series of dates in London later this year.

Unmissable shows from virtuosos Pat Metheny, Al Di Meola, Julian Lage and more will take place across Spring and Summer 2026, offering guitar fans the chance to witness some of the most influential players of our time in person.

These series of concerts are presented by cultural producers Serious, who present live music talent throughout the year, including the annual EFG London Jazz Festival.

20-time Grammy Award winner Pat Metheny – a master of the guitar who’s inspired players from all across the musical spectrum – will be playing three shows at the Barbican across 18 and 19 of July.

An extension of his celebrated SIDE EYE III project, the shows will see him perform with Chris Fishman, Jermaine Paul, and Joe Dyson. It will feature new material, reimagined classics, and, of course, plenty of spellbindingly melodic guitar work for which Metheny is known.

Al Di Meola will also be playing at the Barbican on 25 June as part of his live show titled “The Guitarchitect”. A celebration of the jazz fusion veteran’s legacy, innovation and evolution as an artist, the show will unite five decades of music with sweeping multimedia visuals for a guitar show like no other.

On 15 May, Julian Lage will be performing at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall with his quartet featuring John Medeski, Jorge Roeder and Kenny Wollesen. Lage is, without a doubt, one of the finest jazz players to ever pick up a guitar, with an unparalleled phrasing and feel that needs to be heard and seen to be believed.

Lage will be playing material from his brand new album Scenes from Above, his fifth Blue Note album and the second made in collaboration with revered producer Joe Henry.

Julian Lage - Something More ft. John Medeski, Jorge Roeder, Kenny Wollesen - YouTube

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As well as collaborating with the likes of Gary Burton, Yoko Ono, Jim Hall, John Zorn and more, Lage has also drawn plaudits from across the music world, with listeners praising his expansive vocabulary and commanding melodicism.

Earlier in the year on March 23, Dave Holland and Lionel Loueke will play at Union Chapel, during an event that will unite the two musical giants into one unique experiential performance, blending Loueke’s masterful guitar work with Holland’s resonant bass.

Loueke, who served as Herbie Hancock’s guitarist for over 15 years, has sharpened his chops alongside the best in the business, playing with legends like Wayne Shorter, Sting, Terence Blanchard, Marcus Miller, Esperanza Spalding and more.

A premier presence in the global jazz scene, Loueke has fused modern jazz guitar styles with West African musical traditions.

Holland, likewise, is one of jazz's most influential bass voices, having performed with Miles Davis, Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny, Jack DeJohnette and more. These two jazz giants together result in a collaboration that’s nothing short of extraordinary.

• Pat Metheny at the Barbican on 18 & 19 July: TICKETS
• Al Di Meola at the Barbican on 25 June: TICKETS
• Julian Lage at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall on 15 May: TICKETS
• Dave Holland & Lionel Loueke at Union Chapel on 23 March: TICKETS

Visit Serious for tickets