dazz – Jazz Winter Darmstadt

Darmstadt — Secret Jazz Capital

Anyone who thinks German jazz history was made in Köln, Berlin, or Hamburg is overlooking Darmstadt. The city in South Hesse is home to the Jazzinstitut Darmstadt, one of the most important archives for European jazz research – and with the Bessunger Knabenschule, the Jazzclub Darmstadt, and the Centralstation, it boasts a dense network of vibrant venues. Since 2017, the dazz Festival has united this scene into a ten-day winter jazz marathon, celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2026.

Concept: The City as Festival Stage

Unlike centralized festivals with a single main location, dazz is spread across the entire city center. Over ten days, audiences can travel from the Centralstation at Carree to the Knabenschule in Bessungen, experience intimate sets in the vaulted cellar beneath the Jazzinstitut, attend dinner concerts in the Künstlerkeller, or combine concerts with swing dance classes at the HoffArt-Theater. This polycentricity is intentional: it connects concertgoers and city residents, making jazz a city-wide experience.

Programmatic Breadth

dazz embraces a broad definition of jazz – the 2026 program ranges from classics like the Tingvall Trio (with their album „PAX“) and the vocal-focused singer Lisa Bassenge to the experimental Berlin trio Y, who blend synth, bass, and drums, oscillating between psychedelic and rock jazz. The Christoph Schöpsdau Bigband upholds the big band tradition in „O&A – Originals & Arrangements“, while the Rubinettes take audiences back to the swing era of the 1920s to 40s with their three-part harmonies.

Young Audiences Included

A special feature of dazz: it explicitly targets children. On the festival Sunday, the Centralstation opens its doors for a children's concert featuring arrangements of Sesame Street songs, performed by the Hamburg Art Ensemble. This introduces jazz as an accessible language from an early age – an educational mission that aligns with the Jazzinstitut's self-image as a pedagogical institution.

Accompanying Program: Exhibition and Film

dazz is more than just a concert series. In 2026, the gallery at the Jazzinstitut will showcase the exhibition „Voices of Change“, exploring the political dimension of jazz in the 20th century, referencing artists like Nina Simone. The documentary film „Talking to You“ about saxophonist Christof Lauer will be screened at the Programmkino Rex, followed by a Q&A session with the audience.