Joy to the World 2026 – LIVE PERFORMANCES
Friday, Dec. 11, 2026
Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026
Bob Thompon’s Joy to the World holiday jazz concert is back! This year, the series will take place at the historic Capitol Theater located at 123 Summers Street on Friday, Dec. 11 and Saturday, Dec. 12 at 8pm. This joyful night of live music is presented by West Virginia Public Broadcasting and produced by the team who brings you Mountain Stage, with support from United Methodist Foundation of WV.
Joy to the World has delighted audiences with new and classic holiday favorites for over thirty years, and returns this year with Bob Thompson, his all-star band, special guest vocalist Lena Seikaly and trumpeter James Moore.
“This will be our 34th edition of Joy to the World, and we are really excited about this year’s show,” said Bob Thompson. “It will feature vocalist Lena Seikaly in a return performance. She was wonderful when she was with us thirteen years ago. Earlier this year I had an opportunity to hear her again, and just wow, you are really in for a treat!”
Joining Thompson on stage is his long-time band — Timothy Courts on drums, Ryan Kennedy on guitar, and John Inghram on bass.
Vocalist and DC area-native Lena Seikaly has been a fixture of the D.C. jazz scene for over 15 years and is already making her mark in national and international jazz circles as a revivalist of traditional jazz vocals, as well as an innovator in contemporary vocal jazz styles. Both as a bandleader and featured artist, Lena has headlined at Jazz at Lincoln Center Shanghai (China), the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Strathmore Music Center, Blues Alley, the Hamilton, Sidney Harman Hall, various Smithsonian venues and DC’s famed Westminster Church, as well as major Jazz festivals across the United States.
Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. and the show will begin at 8pm.
Early-Bird Tickets, Nov. 6 at 10am: $30
General Admission Tickets on sale Saturday, Nov. 28 at 10am: $35
Day of Show Tickets: $40
WATCH & LISTEN to the premiere broadcast of Joy to the World (recorded in 2025)
In December of 2026, the 2025 Joy to the World concert featuring Bob Thompson, special guest vocalist Catherine Russell, and trumpeter James Moore will broadcast on WVPB TV and WVPB Radio.
📻 WVPB Radio:
Broadcast dates TBA
📺 WVPB TV:
Broadcast dates TBA
Find WVPB on your TV
Watch online
📺The WV Channel:
Broadast dates TBA
