21st Federal Meeting "Jugend jazzt"

Jazz Capital for Four Days

The Federal Meeting "Jugend jazzt" is Germany's most important young jazz festival and the federal final of a multi-stage competition. After state competitions in all 16 federal states, the qualified young jazz ensembles meet every two years for the Federal Meeting. In 2026, Halle (Saale) will host for the second time after 2007 — from May 14th to 17th, the state of Saxony-Anhalt will transform into a temporary jazz club.

Since its founding in 1997, the Federal Meeting has been supported by the German Music Council and accompanied by Deutschlandfunk as a long-term media partner. The state of Saxony-Anhalt, the city of Halle, and the Kulturstiftung des Bundes (Federal Cultural Foundation) are also on the list of supporters.

Venues: Puschkinhaus, Peißnitzinsel, St. Georgen, University Institute

Four central venues spread the festival across the city:

• Puschkinhaus as the main venue for competitions and concerts
• Peißnitzinsel on the Saale river for open-air sessions
• Georgenkirche (St. Georgen) for the awards ceremony
• Institute for Music at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg for workshops

The Thalia Theater in Halle is also planned as the opening venue, and the Riveufer on the Saale for the grand Jazz Picnic.

Competition and Concert Program

The focus is on the competition in two main categories: Big Band and Combo. An international expert jury of musicians, producers, and critics will evaluate the performances. In parallel, jam sessions will take place, bringing together ensembles and established professionals, along with workshops for the young musicians.

All concerts and sessions are free and open to the public — a conscious decision by the organizers to firmly anchor the festival in the city.

Halle as a Location

With around 240,000 inhabitants, Halle (Saale) is the largest city in the state of Saxony-Anhalt and is well-connected to the German long-distance transport network. The city has a vibrant jazz scene centered around Jazzclub Objekt 5 and Burg Beeskow Jazz, and the university's Institute for Music runs its own jazz-focused educational program — a fitting environment for the Federal Meeting.