New York’s love affair with the American Songbook takes center stage this week as the 37th New York Cabaret Convention returns to Jazz at Lincoln Center for three evenings celebrating the singers, songs, and storytelling that have made cabaret an enduring art form.
Presented by the Mabel Mercer Foundation, the annual event runs October 13–15, 2026, at the Rose Theater in Frederick P. Rose Hall. This year’s program pays tribute to two legendary entertainers, Mabel Mercer and Sammy Davis Jr., before concluding with a wide-ranging celebration of song featuring established performers and emerging talent.
Now in its 37th year, the convention is recognized as the longest-running event of its kind. For audiences who appreciate live music, sophisticated interpretation, and the intimacy of cabaret, it offers an opportunity to experience the Great American Songbook through a remarkable variety of voices.
October 13: “Once In a Blue Moon” — A Tribute to Mabel Mercer
The convention opens Tuesday, October 13, at 6 p.m., with Once In a Blue Moon, honoring the legendary singer whose distinctive artistry helped shape modern cabaret.
Hosted by Jeff Harnar and Andrea Marcovicci, the evening brings together an impressive roster of performers, including Karen Akers, Barbara Brussell, Charles Busch, Tovah Feldshuh, Meg Flather, Clint Holmes, Marilyn Maye, Amanda McBroom, MOIPEI, Marissa Mulder, Sidney Myer, Phillip Officer, Avery Sommers, and Stacy Sullivan. Francesca Amari makes her Cabaret Convention debut.
Mercer was celebrated for her extraordinary ability to make a song feel like an intimate conversation. Her impeccable diction, nuanced phrasing, and gift for storytelling influenced generations of singers, including Frank Sinatra, who famously acknowledged her influence on his own artistry.
Born in England in 1900, Mercer built an international following before establishing herself in New York’s celebrated supper clubs. Her career included appearances at the Carlyle and St. Regis hotels, as well as a long-running engagement at Tony’s and her own Byline Club.
The opening night celebrates not only Mercer’s legacy but also the enduring power of interpretation: the art of finding the emotion and meaning within a lyric.
Event: Once In a Blue Moon — official event information and tickets
October 14: “Sammy: All the Way & Then Some!” — The Songs of Sammy Davis Jr.
Wednesday evening, October 14, at 6 p.m., turns the spotlight on Sammy Davis Jr., the extraordinary entertainer whose career encompassed Broadway, Hollywood, television, and international concert stages.
Hosted by Natalie Douglas, Sammy: All the Way & Then Some! celebrates the versatility and showmanship of a performer whose talents extended well beyond singing. Davis was an actor, dancer, comedian, and impressionist whose work made him one of the most distinctive entertainers of his generation.
The evening features Anna Anderson, Jonathan Arons, Klea Blackhurst, Reed Harris Butts, Eric Comstock, Bryan Eng, Barbara Fasano, Amanda King, Diva LaMarr, Valarie Pettiford, Stephanie Pope, David Raleigh, Jon-Michael Reese, T. Oliver Reid, Gabrielle Stravelli, Luz Velazquez, Suri Vu, Darnell White, Debbie Wileman, and Natasha Yvette Williams. Several performers are making their Cabaret Convention debuts.
The program promises an opportunity to revisit the songs associated with Davis while celebrating the range of talent that continues to bring classic American popular music to life.
Event: Sammy: All the Way & Then Some! — official event information and tickets
October 15: “With a Song in My Heart” — A Cornucopia of Entertainment
The convention concludes Thursday, October 15, at 6 p.m., with With a Song in My Heart, a celebration of the breadth and variety of cabaret.
Hosted by KT Sullivan, the final evening brings together performers from different musical backgrounds and generations. The announced lineup includes Raissa Katona Bennett, Celia Berk, Carole J. Bufford, Tim Connell, Robert Cuccioli, Brian De Lorenzo, Shana Farr, Eric Yves Garcia, The IMs, Sam Jewison, Ben Jones, Ann Kittredge, Susan Mack, Marieann Meringolo, Mafalda Minnozzi, Mark Nadler, Dawn Padmore, Arbender Robinson, Steve Ross, Craig Rubano, Marta Sanders, Madeline Joy Travis, Melodie Wolford, and Can Yasar. Several artists will be making their convention debuts.
Rather than focusing on a single artist or theme, the program offers a broad musical finale, bringing together familiar names and new voices in a celebration of song and performance.
Event: With a Song in My Heart — official event information and tickets
Preserving the Art of Cabaret
Behind the annual convention is the Mabel Mercer Foundation, a nonprofit arts organization established in 1985 to preserve Mercer’s legacy and promote appreciation of cabaret and the songs at its heart.
Its work extends beyond producing performances. The Foundation maintains archival materials documenting cabaret performers across generations, supports artists and presenters, and develops educational programs intended to introduce younger performers to the American Songbook and the art of musical storytelling.
Among its educational initiatives are the Adela & Larry Elow American Songbook Competition for high school students and the Teen Cabaret Showcase, which offers young artists instruction, mentorship, and performance experience.
The Foundation has also helped extend the convention’s influence beyond New York, with events in cities including San Francisco, Chicago, and London.
Its mission reflects an important distinction: cabaret is not simply a concert performed in a smaller venue. At its best, it combines music, personality, interpretation, and storytelling to create a direct connection between performer and audience.
A New York Tradition Worth Discovering
The New York Cabaret Convention offers three different perspectives on a shared musical heritage: a tribute to one of cabaret’s defining artists, a celebration of a legendary all-around entertainer, and an evening embracing the diversity of the American Songbook.
For longtime cabaret enthusiasts, the convention is an annual opportunity to reconnect with the music and artists they love. For newcomers, it offers an introduction to a uniquely intimate performance tradition that continues to evolve while honoring its roots.
The 37th New York Cabaret Convention takes place October 13–15, 2026, at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Frederick P. Rose Hall, Broadway at 60th Street, New York City. All three performances are scheduled for 6 p.m.
For event details and ticket information, visit the Mabel Mercer Foundation’s official Cabaret Convention page.