30th Hildener Jazztage

30 Years of Jazz in the Lower Berg Region

Hilden, a medium-sized town with around 56,000 inhabitants in the Mettmann district (Düsseldorf administrative region), celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Hildener Jazztage from June 3rd to 7th, 2026. The five-day festival has become a fixture in the North Rhine-Westphalian jazz scene over the years, bringing together 14 international and national bands at four different venues. The organizer is Jazzförderung Rhein-Ruhr gGmbH, based in Duisburg.

Jeff Hamilton Returns After 30 Years

A special symbol of the anniversary: American drummer and bandleader Jeff Hamilton, who played the opening concert of the first Hildener Jazztage in the Stadthalle in 1996, returns with his trio for the 30th edition. Hamilton has played with artists such as Diana Krall, Oscar Peterson, and Ray Brown over the decades — his trio is considered one of the most elegant mainstream jazz formations worldwide.

WDR Big Band Meets Jimmy Greene

The second highlight of the anniversary edition is the performance of the WDR Big Band together with American saxophonist Jimmy Greene on Friday, June 5th, at the Stadthalle Hilden. Greene, a three-time Grammy nominee and specialist in modern big band composition, has worked with the WDR Big Band for years — the project continues this collaboration in 2026.

Four Venues in Hilden

The 14 concerts are spread across four main locations: Stadthalle Hilden (Fritz-Gressard-Platz, main stage for major concerts), Kunstraum Gewerbepark-Süd (Auf dem Sand, alternative and experimental jazz acts), Jazz im Park at Haus Horst (open-air with picnic atmosphere on Sunday), and a fourth venue for late-night sessions. This allows for the 'festival hiking' format: up to four concerts per evening, consecutively or in parallel.

Further Program Highlights

In addition to the two top acts, other names on the festival program include: Clara Haberkamp (contemporary piano composition), Accordion Affairs (accordion jazz), the Ella Zirina Trio (Latvian singer and pianist), and RE:Calamari (young German jazz band). The program thus spans from classic swing and contemporary mainstream to European avant-garde.

Festival Passes and Day Tickets

For those who want to experience the entire festival, the Festival Pass+ (€88) is available — it includes all 12 main concerts at the four venues. The regular Festival Pass costs €68 and includes ten concerts from Thursday to Sunday. Day tickets start at €30 (Wednesday) and €35–€40 (Thursday to Sunday). Tickets are available for advance purchase via the festival website and Eventfrog.