KANSAS CITY, Mo. (February 12, 2026) – The American Jazz Museum (AJM) today released renderings and floor plans for the 2026 AJM Restoration Project after the City Council of Kansas City, Mo, voted unanimously on Feb. 5 to approve $3.2 million in public funds. AJM will contribute an additional $300,000, bringing the total project investment to $3.5 million – a transformational investment not seen at AJM in over 25 years.
“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,” said Stephenie Smith, board chair at AJM. “The favorable vote from City Council signals a commitment to reimagining Kansas City’s future contributions to its historic entertainment district, and jazz as an American cultural institution.”
The restoration will reorganize four primary components of the museum’s 29-year-old footprint:
- Relocating the Blue Room performance space to accommodate 180-200
- Creating a new café and expanded retail
- Reorganizing exhibit spaces, including a new changing
- Improving back-of-house operations for greater
Local musicians will also benefit from this year’s restoration efforts with improved sound, acoustics, and lighting in the Blue Room, accommodating larger audiences and a new dining menu.
City Council authorized the city manager to execute a $3.2 million cooperative agreement with AJM, sponsored by 3rd District Councilwoman Melissa Robinson and co-sponsored by 4th and 6th District Councilmembers, Crispin Rea and Andrea Bough. The city’s contribution draws $1.2 million from the Public Improvements Advisory Committee Contingency Fund from the 3rd District and $2 million from the Convention and Sports Complex Fund.
“This investment sends a message to the philanthropic and private communities that we are taking care of this asset,” said Councilwoman Robinson. “We want them to support us as we move toward the full breadth of the plan.”
The restoration effort builds on strategic research and community engagement conducted in 2018 and 2022. AJM collaborated with neighborhood partners, artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, students and jazz enthusiasts to refine a plan that positions the museum as a collective-experience headquarters – a gathering place where all audiences can discover and celebrate America’s original art form under one roof.
At its core, the 2026 AJM Restoration Project fulfills a civic responsibility, ensuring that Kansas City maintains the institutional capacity to showcase jazz’s evolving possibilities and to strengthen the city’s role as a steward of an original American art form.
This year, the board of directors has aligned its strategic priorities to renew the visitor experience and position the museum as a destination for musicians, patrons, partners and donors. The museum is advancing towards its long-term expansion vision, including a full renovation of the museum space.
About American Jazz Museum
The mission of the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City is to celebrate and exhibit the experience of jazz as an original American art form through performance, exhibition, education, and research at one of the country’s jazz crossroads – 18th & Vine. As the only museum in the world solely focused on the preservation, exhibition and advancement of jazz music, the American Jazz Museum is dedicated to public service and collaborative efforts to expand the influence, awareness and appreciation of jazz among the widest demographic of people across the Kansas City region, as well as among those based in various locations worldwide. For a complete list of upcoming programs and performances, visit www.americanjazzmuseum.org.
For more information, contact:
Jill Johnson
jill.johnson@kcjazz.org
816.895.8470