Kempten Jazz Spring

A Jazz Festival of National Standing

The Kempten Jazz Spring is one of Germany's largest jazz festivals and the musical flagship of the Allgäu region. For nine days, Kempten transforms into a single, large sound body: around 50 concerts on nearly 30 stages fill theaters, pubs, churches, squares, and clubs throughout the city. The stylistic range is enormous, spanning from classic jazz and swing to funk, soul, and blues, as well as modern and experimental sounds, Latin, folk, and chanson.

History and Award

The festival is supported by the Kempten artist association Klecks e.V., a volunteer organization that curates the program year after year. In 2024, the Jazz Spring was honored as the Bavarian State Jazz Festival – a recognition of its supra-regional importance. International stars meet national greats and exciting emerging artists here, giving the festival its special character between tradition and innovation.

Venues and Atmosphere

A characteristic feature is the close integration of the festival and the city: from the city theater to the brewery pub "Zum Stift" to small clubs and open-air stages, Kempten becomes a jazz stage. The short distances between venues make it possible to experience several concerts of different styles in one evening – a festival format that involves the entire city center.

Regional Context

Kempten is the largest city in the Allgäu region and, as an independent city, is located in the state of Bavaria, nestled between the pre-Alpine region and the Allgäu Alps. The Jazz Spring underscores Kempten's role as the cultural center of the region and makes the city a meeting point for the jazz scene for nine days.