A $3.5 million restoration project will bring significant changes to the American Jazz Museum in 2026 — including expanded performance space, new food service and a larger retail footprint designed to enhance the visitor experience at 18th & Vine.
The Kansas City Council recently approved $3.2 million in public funding for the redevelopment. The museum will contribute an additional $300,000, bringing the total investment to $3.5 million. Work is expected to begin and conclude within 2026.
The renovation reorganizes four major components of the museum’s 29-year-old footprint.
The most noticeable change will be the relocation of the Blue Room, the museum’s live jazz venue. Currently housed in a smaller space, the Blue Room will move into the area that now serves as the changing gallery. The larger footprint will allow the venue to accommodate approximately 180 to 200 guests, along with upgraded acoustics, sound and lighting.
The current Blue Room space will be converted into a café, introducing dedicated food service inside the museum. Leaders say the addition is designed to create a more immersive, destination-style experience, encouraging visitors to stay longer before or after performances and exhibits.
Retail space will also expand. The gift shop will grow to offer more merchandise connected to Kansas City’s jazz heritage, artists and exhibitions, while serving as an additional revenue source for the institution.
Exhibit areas will be reorganized to improve flow and storytelling. The museum will continue to maintain permanent galleries highlighting jazz masters, while refreshing its approach to rotating exhibitions.
Stephenie Smith, chair of the museum’s board, said the restoration is about more than physical upgrades.
“The American Jazz Museum has a powerful story to tell about the history, impact and future of jazz, and this effort will help us tell it in the way it deserves to be told,” Smith said.
She emphasized Kansas City’s responsibility in preserving the genre’s legacy.
“Jazz was here before anything else that Kansas City is known for,” Smith said. “Many have said it was born in New Orleans, but it was raised here in Kansas City. It’s our responsibility to shepherd that.”
The project builds on years of strategic planning and community input, positioning the museum to strengthen its role as both a cultural anchor in the Historic Jazz District and a gathering place for residents and visitors from around the world.
