38th Jazzfest Rottweil

Jazzfest Rottweil — one of the most important jazz festivals in Southern Germany

Since 1989, the Jazzfest Rottweil has been one of the most traditional and renowned jazz festivals in Southern Germany. In 2026, the 38th edition will run from April 30 to May 16 — two weeks of world jazz in historic Rottweil, the oldest town in Baden-Württemberg (Rottweil district). The organizer is the non-profit Jazzfest Rottweil e.V., supported by voluntary commitment and a dedicated jazz community.

2026 Program — Confirmed Acts

The 2026 program is once again international and top-class. The acts confirmed so far:

• Thursday, April 30 — "Jazz in Town" (Opening, Rottweil city center, 5:30 PM)
• Saturday, May 2 — Chilly Gonzales (Alte Stallhalle, 8:30 PM) — Pianist and entertainer with a unique style
• Monday, May 4 — Quadro Nuevo (8:30 PM) — Mediterranean-oriental world quartet
• Thursday, May 7 — Wolfgang Haffner Trio + Nils Landgren (8:30 PM) — Drummer star with Swedish trombone legend
• Friday, May 8 — Marla Glen (8:30 PM) — the unmistakable American soul-jazz voice
• Saturday, May 9 — Rainbirds (8:30 PM) — Katharina Franck and band, German pop-jazz legends
• Wednesday, May 13 — Matt Bianco (8:30 PM) — British Latin-jazz-pop trio with "Get Out of Your Lazy Bed"
• Friday, May 15 — Moop Mama × Älice (8:30 PM) — Munich brass hip-hop meets young soul voice
• Saturday, May 16 — Joshua Redman Quartet (8:30 PM) — the American tenor saxophonist as the festival finale

All concerts are sold out in advance — a clear sign of the festival's appeal.

"Jazz in Town" — The Free Opening

A Rottweil tradition is the free opening "Jazz in Town" on the first festival evening: bands play at several locations in Rottweil's old town — on the market square, in courtyards of historic houses, in pubs. Free admission, intimate and cozy atmosphere. An ideal start that anchors the festival in the city and also attracts jazz newcomers.

The Alte Stallhalle and Other Venues

The main venue for the headline concerts is the Alte Stallhalle — a former horse stable converted into an acoustically excellent concert hall. With around 450 seats, it offers the ideal size for world jazz: close enough to experience the musicians, large enough for big names. In addition, there are smaller venues for side programs — workshops, talks, jam sessions.

Rottweil and the Festival

Rottweil, with around 25,000 inhabitants, is the district capital in the foothills of the Black Forest, located between Stuttgart and Lake Constance. The city is the oldest in Baden-Württemberg — founded in 73 AD as the Roman Arae Flaviae. Today, Rottweil is known for its Fasnet (Carnival), the modern elevator test tower (TK Elevator, 246 m), and the annual Jazzfest — an unusual combination that gives the city a breadth of cultural profile rarely found in small provincial towns.