HARMAN brand, JBL is celebrating its 80th anniversary and will mark the milestone with a series of global initiatives, including the JBL Playback Gallery – showcasing eight decades of iconic JBL products with expert commentary and technical demonstrations. The tour will visit landmark cities throughout 2026, including Amsterdam, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, Tokyo and Vienna.
Other projects include a commemorative anniversary video and a digital magazine available for a limited time here, plus a full-season takeover of HARMAN’s Audio Talks podcast series, which includes conversations with engineers, designers and musicians who have influenced JBL’s sound.
Since its founding by engineer James B. Lansing in 1946, JBL has set the standard for audio innovation. From professional recording studios and home entertainment to powering cultural moments like Woodstock and Tomorrowland, JBL has been committed to delivering authentic, unfiltered sound.
Today, hundreds of millions listen to the music they love through JBL portable speakers and headphones, while JBL Professional reportedly powers over 40% of the world’s cinemas, while serving stadiums, recording studios and music venues, ensuring high-quality sound is accessible to listeners everywhere, even in the car.
“For 80 years, JBL’s engineering legacy has been the benchmark for high-fidelity audio and that standard lives in every JBL product made today,” says Dave Rogers, President, HARMAN Lifestyle Division. “As we celebrate this milestone, JBL remains committed to carrying this standard forward in the technologies that will power the next generation of sound and culture,”
For more than eight decades, JBL engineers have pioneered technologies that have transformed how sound is created and experienced, from groundbreaking loudspeaker designs to award-winning smart audio solutions for professional, luxury, portable and car audio.
This has earned JBL some of the industry’s highest honours, including Academy Awards for achievements in sound engineering and a Grammy Award for its “continual mastery and innovation in concert, studio, cinema and broadcast sound and monitors to ensure exacting standards for the most accurate sonic experience”.
Looking ahead, JBL is shaping the future of sound with investments in spatial audio, adaptive soundscapes and immersive listening experiences that integrate audio into everyday life. Sustainability is also a critical frontier for JBL, guiding product design and production toward a more responsible future for audio innovation.
Through community-driven initiatives like the JBL Music Academy, the JBL Campus Program and partnerships with organisations such as Girls Make Beats, JBL is bringing together emerging artists and the broader industry to break down barriers and amplify the diverse voices that will define the future of audio.
“Authenticity in music is everything. JBL has always been, and will always be, about ensuring artists’ voices are heard and audiences experience their vision unfiltered, whether on the move, at home, or at a live event. JBL brings the world together through the power of sound,” says Martin Garrix, JBL Global Ambassador.