Since 1964, Jazzfest Berlin has been an influential meeting point for international jazz. The Haus der Berliner Festspiele and other venues bring together free improvisation, new compositions and artists with widely differing musical perspectives. It is a good place to explore where jazz is heading.

The next edition takes place from 29 October to 1 November 2026. Programme and tickets.

Deutsches Jazzfestival Frankfurt focuses on distinctive musical encounters. Hessischer Rundfunk brings international guests, the German scene and the hr-Bigband together in a programme that goes beyond a sequence of touring concerts. The hr-Sendesaal is its centre, while the club night opens a window onto Frankfurt’s local jazz scene.

The 2026 festival is announced for 13 to 17 October. Programme and tickets.

Moers rewards open ears. Since 1972, its Whitsun programme has brought experimental jazz, free improvisation, electronics and musical traditions from around the world into dialogue. Sessions and unusual formats sit alongside the main concerts. In 2026, the main stage returned to Kastellplatz in the town centre.

The latest edition ran from 21 to 25 May 2026; we have not yet confirmed a 2027 date. Programme and tickets.

Jazz Open pairs major summer concerts on Schlossplatz with jazz in smaller venues. The main stages reach well into pop, soul and rock, while the club stages offer many of the festival’s jazz discoveries. Free Open Stages complement the programme. Explore both sides when planning a visit.

The Stuttgart edition is announced for 30 June to 11 July 2027. Programme and tickets.

Enjoy Jazz stretches across several weeks and the Rhine-Neckar region, with Heidelberg, Mannheim and Ludwigshafen as its main centres. Jazz, electronics, hip-hop and other musical worlds meet in a programme that leaves room for new connections. Visit for one evening or build a small festival journey through the region.

The 2026 edition runs from 2 October to 7 November. Programme and tickets.

ELBJAZZ turns the Blohm+Voss shipyard into a festival setting. Jazz, soul, funk and related music meet harbour cranes and views across the Elbe. The festival returned in 2026 after a break and now takes place in July. It suits listeners looking for a concentrated weekend with a striking backdrop.

The 2027 dates are confirmed as 9 and 10 July. Elbphilharmonie concerts will be separate events outside the festival weekend. Programme and tickets.

jazzahead! brings the international jazz industry to Bremen while opening its concert programme to the public. Short showcase concerts introduce new bands, and CLUBNIGHT connects venues across the city. The trade fair, festival and club nights have different admission arrangements and tickets. Concert attendance does not require professional registration.

The trade fair and showcases are announced for 22 to 24 April 2027, with CLUBNIGHT on 23 and 24 April. Programme and tickets.

JazzBaltica brings jazz to the Baltic coast. Around the Maritim Seehotel and the beach park in Timmendorfer Strand, international musicians meet young talent and the regional scene. Indoor concerts sit alongside outdoor music. The compact setting makes it easy to move between stages and take a break by the sea.

The next extended festival weekend is announced for 24 to 27 June 2027. Programme and tickets.

Leverkusener Jazztage offers several weeks of music ranging from jazz to soul, funk and blues. Forum, Erholungshaus and Scala give the festival different scales and atmospheres; some concerts also take place in Wuppertal. New bands appear alongside established names. Choose evenings to suit your taste and check the venue for each concert.

The autumn 2026 programme has been published. Programme and tickets.

Dresden is a distinctive destination for traditional jazz, swing and music rooted in jazz’s early decades. The Dixieland Festival combines concerts with music on the streets and on the water. Riverboat Shuffle and the closing parade are characteristic features, offering ways to experience jazz beyond the concert hall.

The 55th edition takes place from 16 to 23 May 2027. Programme and tickets.

Bamberg offers an accessible way into festival life: concerts at its Blues & Jazz Festival are free to attend. International and regional bands bring blues, jazz and related music to the city and surrounding area. The open city festival attracts a broad audience and fits a summer visit to the World Heritage region.

The organizer provisionally lists 30 July to 8 August 2027. Check that these dates are confirmed before arranging travel. Programme and tickets.

Leipziger Jazztage connects international guests with the city’s active scene. Since 1976, Jazzclub Leipzig has developed a festival with its own projects, musical encounters and a perspective that crosses genre boundaries. Major stages, clubs and unusual venues complement one another. The 2026 anniversary edition is a good opportunity to explore Leipzig as a jazz city.

The current festival website lists 17 to 25 October 2026. Programme and tickets.

Burghausen combines a long jazz tradition with support for new bands. Its International Jazz Week dates back to 1970, and the young artists’ jazz award remains an important part of the programme. International concerts and close contact between audiences and musicians shape the festival. The 2027 edition will be more compact, with the previous old-town JazzNight on hold.

The revised dates are 3 to 7 March 2027. Programme and tickets.

Cologne Jazzweek turns the city into a listening space. International guests meet the local scene, from Stadtgarten and LOFT to churches and the Philharmonie. Awarded a German Jazz Prize in 2023, the festival focuses on contemporary jazz, improvisation and new musical worlds. It suits listeners who enjoy moving between familiar clubs and unexpected settings.

The latest edition took place from 5 to 11 September 2026; we have not yet confirmed a 2027 date. Programme and tickets.

Jazzfest Bonn brings different musical perspectives together in a single evening. Its double bills often pair a discovery with an established name. Venues range from Pantheon to museums, churches and the opera house. This makes the festival easy to explore one evening at a time, with room for attentive listening and new discoveries.

The next edition is announced for 9 April to 1 May 2027. Programme and tickets.

Münster focuses on carefully selected contemporary jazz projects, especially from Europe. New perspectives and musical discoveries take centre stage at Theater Münster. The larger festival takes place in odd-numbered years, alternating with the compact Shortcut format. It offers an attentive start to the jazz year.

The next full edition is announced for 8 to 10 January 2027. Programme and tickets.

Jazztage Dresden is the city’s broad autumn festival, distinct from the spring Dixieland Festival. Its programme ranges from modern jazz and swing to soul, blues and crossover projects. Several venues offer different perspectives on the city. The programme also includes music outside jazz, so check each concert when making your selection.

The autumn 2026 concerts are published, with some individual events extending into the following year. Programme and tickets.

Viersen concentrates its international jazz programme around Festhalle, Ernst-Klusen-Saal and Lyzeumsgarten. Large ensembles meet chamber-sized concerts and new bands, with emerging artists and Junior’s Jazz Open adding their own perspectives. Short distances make it a good option for exploring several musical directions over one weekend.

The latest edition took place from 25 to 27 September 2026. We have not yet confirmed new festival dates. Programme and tickets.

Rottweil combines international concerts with a festival rooted in local life. Alte Stallhalle is its central venue, while Jazz in Town brings music to the centre and its bars. Jazz sits alongside funk, blues and other styles. It is worth considering for established artists in a manageable festival setting.

The latest edition ran from 30 April to 16 May 2026; we have not yet confirmed a 2027 date. Programme and tickets.

fill in is a newer festival giving the Saarland jazz scene an international stage. E-Werk in Saarbrücken is the centre of its main summer edition, with bar and club concerts and further events reaching into the region. Jazz, soul and fusion feature in the programme. It adds a useful perspective from the Saar-Lor-Lux region alongside longer-established festivals.

The main 2026 edition took place from 26 to 28 June. The next summer dates will appear on the festival website once announced. Programme and tickets.

Check the actual programme before booking: a jazz festival may offer a focused jazz programme or a broad mix including pop, soul and blues. Check which concerts your day or festival pass includes and whether any venues require separate tickets. The linked organizers’ websites provide current information.

If you arrive early or stay longer, find more ideas in our selection of jazz clubs in Germany and our overview of jazz jam sessions.

Research checked: 11 October 2026. Sources are the official festival and organizer websites and information from the cities involved. We distinguish announced upcoming dates from past editions and leave unconfirmed 2027 dates open.

Beyond our 20 detailed festival profiles, Germany has more important destinations for jazz. These recommendations lead you to distinctive programmes, international encounters and lively regional scenes.

Aalener Jazzfest combines international jazz with funk, soul and other musical colours. In Halle (Saale), Women in Jazz focuses on contemporary projects under the artistic direction of women musicians.

For new sounds, explore Monheim Triennale in Monheim am Rhein, where international musicians develop their own projects and unusual collaborations. Its continuation is currently uncertain. Jazzdor Strasbourg-Berlin brings the French jazz scene and international collaborations to Berlin; its 2026 edition took place at Gretchen.

Göttinger Jazzfestival has brought international guests and the local scene together since 1978. Ingolstädter Jazztage ranges from major concerts to jazz in local pubs.

Jazzfest Gronau also welcomes swing, blues and funk. Alongside international guests, Hildener Jazztage places a strong emphasis on the jazz scene of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Kemptener Jazzfrühling presents many styles of jazz across numerous venues in Kempten and the surrounding area. Jazzmeile Thüringen connects several towns and their jazz clubs in a statewide festival. Follow the organizers’ links for programmes and information about future editions.