WILLEMSTAD – The organizers of the Curaçao BlueSeas Festival have announced the lineup for the 2026 edition of the annual blues event. The street festival, held in the historic Pietermaai district, will feature several international blues artists in early April, including Samantha Fish, Cedric Burnside, Jackie Venson and Kirk Fletcher.
The festival will take place for the eighth time in Pietermaai on Friday, April 3, and Saturday, April 4. This year’s edition will begin with an opening concert on Thursday evening, April 2, at Kura Hulanda Village, featuring the Danish band Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado.
The band, formed in 2003, blends soul, Chicago blues, boogie and rock and roll. Over the years, the group has toured across Europe, Canada, the United States and Asia and has opened shows for artists such as Bonnie Raitt and the Tedeschi Trucks Band. In early 2025 the band released its ninth studio album, House of Sticks, with a live album expected later this year.
The festival’s Friday program includes four performances. Grammy-winning artist Cedric Burnside, grandson of blues legend R.L. Burnside, will bring his Hill Country blues sound to Curaçao. The lineup also features American guitarist and singer Jackie Venson, blues-rock guitarist Quinn Sullivan and British guitar prodigy Toby Lee.
On Saturday, audiences will see performances by the soul and R&B group J & The Causeways, guitarist Joanna Connor & The Wrecking Crew, blues guitarist Kirk Fletcher and singer-guitarist Samantha Fish.
Concerts will be spread across several stages throughout Pietermaai. According to organizers, the festival continues to bring internationally recognized blues talent to Curaçao while transforming the neighborhood into a lively music destination for residents and visitors alike.