38th Jazzfest Gronau

38 Years of Jazz in the Western Münsterland

The Jazzfest Gronau is one of the most significant jazz festivals in Germany — and the most important international music event in the western Münsterland region. Since 1988, the festival in the Dutch-German border town of Gronau has annually brought together jazz greats from around the world and an internationally mixed audience. The 38th edition in 2026 takes place from Saturday, April 25 to Sunday, May 3, 2026 — nine days of pure jazz.

Venues

The festival uses several locations in Gronau:

• Bürgerhalle Gronau — Main hall, major concerts
• Kirchvorplatz Epe — Open-air concerts (weather permitting)
• Freibad Gronau — Unusual open-air location
• Gronau City Center — Smaller sessions in hotels and restaurants
• Hotel Restaurants — Intimate jazz club atmosphere

2026 Program — International Stars and Young Jazz

The program combines international stars with first-class amateur and semi-professional musicians. The most important acts of the 38th edition:

• Alphaville — April 29, 2026 (Synth-pop legends perform with a jazz big band)
• Billy Cobham with the JugendJazzOrchester NRW — April 30, 2026 (Drum legend with a youth big band)
• Alma Naidu feat. Jakob Manz — April 28, 2026 (Vocal jazz / Modern Jazz)
• Further international acts will be confirmed in the run-up — full program at jazzfest.de.

Tickets and Special Rates

Main concerts from approx. €60, smaller sessions significantly cheaper or free admission. Festival passes and day tickets available. Advance booking via the Gronau Tourist Information Office, Konrad-Adenauer-Str. 45, or by phone +49 2562 71870 (also WhatsApp). The organizer is Kulturbüro Gronau GmbH.

Gronau — A Town in the Triangle

Gronau, with around 47,000 inhabitants, is located in the westernmost Münsterland, directly on the German-Dutch border, in the Borken district. The town combines Rhenish, Münsterland, and Dutch influences — a perfect ground for an international jazz festival. Udo Lindenberg is an honorary citizen of Gronau (his father was from the town), and the Jazzfest is an expression of the town's cultural identity as a 'gateway to the world'.

The Jazzfest Experience

Unlike pure stadium festivals, Jazzfest Gronau offers an intimate, curated atmosphere: main concerts in the Bürgerhalle (approx. 1000 seats), late sessions in hotel bars, open air with a picnic vibe. International guests travel from Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, and Germany — the festival is a pilgrimage destination in the European jazz community.