Jazz im Rathaushof Speyer

Jazz im Rathaushof Speyer is a carefully curated concert series in the historic town hall courtyard of the UNESCO World Heritage city of Speyer. The concerts are a highlight of Speyer's summer cultural program, combining high-quality jazz music with the unique atmosphere of the historic courtyard.

Four Concerts: Two Evening, Two Afternoon Concerts

The concert format includes four concerts – two evening concerts and two afternoon concerts. This caters to different listening preferences: those who enjoy going out in the evening and appreciating a concert atmosphere will enjoy the evening concerts; those looking for a relaxed afternoon event are welcome at the afternoon concerts.

Modernized Concept of the "Oldtime Jazz Festival"

Jazz im Rathaushof is the modernized successor concept to the former "Oldtime Jazz Festival". The stylistic framework has been expanded: instead of being limited to traditional New Orleans and Chicago jazz, the series now presents modern jazz styles, swing, blues, and occasionally world music or Latin jazz. This allows the festival to reach a broader audience without losing its original jazz character.

Palatinate Specialties as Culinary Accompaniment

The concerts are accompanied by Palatinate specialties. Saumagen, Leberknödel, Bratwurst, Palatinate wine, Riesling, Weissburgunder, and Spätburgunder are part of the culinary offerings. This makes the concert a holistic enjoyment experience – listening to jazz, drinking Palatinate wine, and dining regionally.

Program to be Published in May 2026

The exact band program for 2026 will be published by the Speyer City Cultural Office in May 2026. Based on experience, bands from the Palatinate, the Rhine-Neckar region, and beyond will perform, often with renowned soloists and established ensembles.

Historic Town Hall Courtyard as Venue

The Speyer Town Hall Courtyard is a protected, historic courtyard with special acoustics. The Speyer town hall architecture, the sandstone masonry, and the atmosphere of a historic city make the concerts a visually and acoustically special experience – far removed from the anonymous concert halls of larger festivals.

Speyer as a Cultural City

Speyer, with its approximately 51,000 inhabitants, offers a dense summer cultural program: Musikfest Speyer (July), Brezelfest (July), Jazz im Rathaushof (August), MPS (August), Altstadtfest (September), Internationale Musiktage Dom (September/October). This makes Speyer one of the liveliest cultural locations in the Rhein-Pfalz district.