jazzahead! Festival

20 Years as the World Capital of Jazz

Since 2006, jazzahead! in Bremen has become the world's most important meeting place for the international jazz industry. What began as a trade fair is now a hybrid of a B2B industry meeting, festival, showcase platform, and major cultural event. Every year, promoters, labels, agencies, media, and musicians from over 50 countries flock to the Hanseatic city to negotiate the trends, talents, and business of modern jazz under one roof.

Showcases, Clubnight, and the German Jazz Award

At the heart of the festival are the 38 showcase concerts – curated performances by emerging and established acts in Hall 7 of Messe Bremen and the Schlachthof cultural center. These form the musical backbone of the festival. In addition, there is the Grand Opening, the presentation of the German Jazz Award – one of the most prestigious accolades in the German jazz landscape – and the educational program "Impro & Jazz for Kids," which introduces young audiences to improvised music.

The Clubnight: Bremen Dances

The emotional highlight each year is the Clubnight: spread across the entire city, dozens of bars, clubs, concert halls, and cultural centers transform Bremen into a single, dancing jazz stage. In 2026, the Clubnight will be extended to two nights for the first time: Friday in Bremen, Saturday in Bremerhaven – with a combined ticket.

Bremen, Hanseatic City, and Jazz

It's no coincidence that the Hanseatic city of Bremen has become home to Europe's most important jazz festival: the city combines a strong jazz-affine scene (Schlachthof, Sendesaal, Glocke), a central North German location, and Messe Bremen as an experienced organizer. In the anniversary year 2026, Sweden is the partner country – a sign that Scandinavia is one of Europe's most dynamic jazz regions.