The Institute’s worldwide, highly regarded Jazz in the Classroom programs are tailored for elementary, middle, high school, and college students to help them develop an understanding of and appreciation for jazz music. The initiative strives to share the positive aspects of jazz with young people who would not otherwise have opportunities to learn about this great national treasure.

International Jazz Day is the world's largest annual celebration of jazz. Celebrated each year on April 30 in more than 190 countries on all seven continents, Jazz Day highlights jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe. To kick off the 10th Anniversary of International Jazz Day in 2021, the Institute presented a spectacular Global Concert hosted by Michael Douglas at the United Nations in New York, along with free educational programs reaching hundreds of thousands worldwide.

The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA is a tuition-free two-year program that accepts one ensemble of musicians for each class. All of the students receive full scholarships and stipends to cover their monthly living expenses. The students study both individually and as a small group, receiving personal mentoring, ensemble coaching, and lectures on the jazz tradition. The Institute welcomed its 13th class of musicians in October 2021.