Shell and the producers of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival announced this week that Shell will continue its presenting sponsorship as part of a new five-year agreement.

The long-term alliance with Shell first began in 2006 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, when Shell stepped up as the lead sponsor to ensure the survival of the city’s signature celebration of music and culture. The official name of the event will remain the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell.

Colette Hirstius, President, Shell USA, Inc., said in a press release, “Shell is proud to continue as the presenting sponsor of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival through 2030—a relationship that began nearly two decades ago as a sign of hope after Hurricane Katrina. Today, that commitment reflects our leadership in Louisiana’s energy sector and our deep roots in the state’s economy. We’re honored to invest in communities, support jobs, and celebrate the culture that makes New Orleans unique.”

The announcement comes as Jazz Fest prepares to release the music lineup and ticket information for next year’s celebration in the coming weeks. Jazz Fest 2026 is set for Thursday through Sunday on two weekends: April 23 – April 26 and April 30 – May 3.

Jazz Fest Producer/Director Quint Davis said, “With this latest agreement, Shell and Jazz Fest enter our third decade of coming together to present America’s greatest culture to the world. Through the formidable challenges of Hurricane Katrina and the pandemic, Shell’s support of the Festival and the Jazz & Heritage Foundation has been vital and unwavering. We thank Colette Hirstius and the people of Shell for their steadfast commitment to New Orleans and the entire region and for being a part of Jazz Fest for more than 20 years and counting.”

A recent study estimates the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell annually generates over $500 million in economic impact and tax revenues for the City and State.

Since launching the sustainability program in 2022, Shell has helped make Jazz Fest one of the most environmentally responsible cultural events in the U.S. In 2024, the Festival achieved Evergreen Status with the Council for Responsible Sport, the highest level of certification for sustainable events.

The 2025 Shell and Jazz Fest Sustainability program achieved its most significant results since its inception with:

· Avoided 272.11 Metric tons of CO2 equivalents released to the air via waste diversion; that’s enough air capacity to fill about 12,634,934 regulation 29.5” basketballs

· 156.99 Metric tons of waste diverted from landfill (a 40.08% diversion rate of total waste collected)

· 16,929 gallons of water dispensed, eliminating 135,432 single-use bottles

· 155 local jobs created over the ~30 pre-production and Festival days and 245 volunteers deployed to support sustainability efforts