Jazz an einem Sommerabend — Burg Linn

Krefeld — City on the Lower Rhine with Castle Heritage

Krefeld, with around 230,000 inhabitants, the tenth-largest city in North Rhine-Westphalia, was once the center of the German velvet and silk industry. Today, the cityscape is characterized by Bauhaus architecture (Haus Lange, Haus Esters by Mies van der Rohe), the theater scene at Theaterplatz, and the Linn district with its unique medieval moated castle. The Lower Rhine character with floodplains, shallow waters, and rural expanse surrounds the city — for centuries, the Rhenish lifeline between Cologne and the Netherlands ran here.

Burg Linn — Festival Scenery with a Moat

Burg Linn is one of the best-preserved Lower Rhine moated castles: a medieval complex from the 12th century, surrounded by a still water-filled moat, outer bailey, and hunting lodge. Today, the complex houses the Museum Burg Linn with archaeological collections and temporary exhibitions. For Jazz an einem Sommerabend, the paved castle courtyard becomes the stage, and the audience sits in a semicircle — an atmosphere that has made the festival famous far beyond Krefeld.

Since 1985 — Grown from the Krefeld Jazz Cellar

The festival was founded in 1985 by Jazzklub Krefeld e.V., an association that has operated the Krefeld jazz cellar at Lohstraße 92 as a venue for decades. From a small summer evening with local musicians, it has grown over the decades into an internationally renowned festival — Billy Cobham, Klaus Doldinger, John Scofield, Maria Schneider Orchestra, and many other greats of the genre have been guests at Burg Linn.

Program 2026 — Three Acts, Three Stories

The program for the 41st edition combines emerging talent, European top acts, and US-American avant-garde jazz. The Jugendjazzorchester NRW opens at 6:30 PM — the big band celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026, led by Stephan Schulze and Florian Raepke, touring worldwide, a training ground for entire generations of jazz musicians. It is followed at 8:00 PM by the Pablo Held Trio with British trumpeter Alexandra Ridout and Polish saxophonist Marta Wajdzik — a special lineup for the 20th trio anniversary. The headliner at 9:30 PM is the James Brandon Lewis Quartet: New York saxophonist Lewis with pianist Aruán Ortiz, bassist Brad Jones, and drummer Chad Taylor — one of the most defining voices in US-American jazz in recent years.

Tickets and Atmosphere

Tickets are tiered: regular admission €45 at the box office (advance €39), reduced €30 (advance €26) for Jazzklub members, schoolchildren, and students. In case of rain, the concerts move to a marquee — the water-filled moat concept works even in difficult weather. Snacks, drinks, and a long summer evening are part of the experience.

Krefeld and Linn as a Travel Tip

Anyone visiting the festival should plan the day in Krefeld-Linn: Museum Burg Linn during the day, Andreasmarkt with cafes and restaurants, Greiffenhorstpark for a walk. The district culture of Linn is different from the larger Krefeld center — more village-like, with its own Karneval, its own identity.