Konstanzer Jazzherbst

47 Years of Avant-Garde Jazz on Lake Constance

Founded in the early 1980s, Jazzclub Konstanz is one of Southern Germany's most traditional jazz clubs. Its programming explicitly goes beyond classic standards — the club positions itself as a forum for "experimental and improvised music" and sees itself as a meeting point for "new jazz" beyond established conventions. For decades, the highlight of the annual program has been the Konstanzer Jazzherbst, which takes over the last week of October at the K9 venue and the Wolkensteinsaal am Münster.

Four Double Concerts in 2026

The 2026 festival runs from Wednesday, October 28th, to Saturday, October 31st. Each evening is designed as a double concert — two acts back-to-back with a short break. October 28th opens with the Co Streiff-Russ Johnson Quartet, followed by IN CAHOOTS. October 29th features the Sachse-Hertenstein Duo and the Lindemann-Queen CH-US Connection — a transatlantic program. On October 30th, Moritz Stahl Dream Sequencer and Bel Art Trio Plus 2 will perform, and on the closing night, October 31st, the Munich Composer Collective will take the stage.

Two Venues with Character

For decades, K9 in Hieronymusgasse 3 has been the city's most important live jazz venue — an old hall with a wrap-around gallery, an intimate stage, and excellent acoustics. The Wolkensteinsaal in the Kulturzentrum am Münster (Wessenbergstr. 43) offers a more classic concert hall atmosphere with tiered seating. The festival alternates between these two spaces depending on the size of the ensemble.

Konstanz on Lake Constance as a Festival City

With around 86,000 inhabitants, Konstanz is the largest city on Lake Constance and also a university city — a combination that shapes the Jazzherbst audience: young university students meet established jazz fans from the entire Lake Constance region and neighboring Switzerland. Its location directly on the Swiss border traditionally attracts artists from Zurich, Basel, and Schaffhausen — the most international mix south of Munich.