MUNIQ Jazz Festival

Young Munich Jazz Scene with Ambition

The niq kollektiv consists of young musicians from the Munich area who, with the MUNIQ Jazz Festival, are creating a new platform for encounters, exchange, and artistic experimentation. The debut edition on June 19 and 20, 2026, is the public result of this initiative — and at the same time a clear signal that jazz in Munich is finding its own voice beyond established venues.

Carte Blanche Format as Core Identity

The festival rests on two Carte Blanche showcases: drummer Eva Klesse and trombonist Moritz Renner are each given free rein to assemble new ensembles — with musicians they haven't played with before. One of the ensembles is recruited from the Munich scene, the other from supra-regional acts. These encounters result in constellations that exist exclusively for the festival.

Acts with International Visibility

In addition to the Carte Blanche sets, other acts are on the program: pianist Svetlana Marinchenko with her trio SVM3, nominated for the German Jazz Award; the internationally acclaimed quartet Fazer; the acoustic duo Fiona Grond & Luca Zambito; the quartet of saxophonist Yvonne Moriel (Sweet Life); and the transcultural duo Sun-Mi Hong & Moritz Stahl.

Kreativquartier as Venue

The Kreativquartier, located on the former Luitpoldpark grounds on Dachauer Straße, has been an experimental space for the independent scene, visual arts, and subculture for years — with clubs like ZIRKA and SpaceForSkate serving as MUNIQ venues. Both locations are in close proximity to each other, allowing festival-goers to move between sets.

Safer Space as a Principle

The niq kollektiv explicitly understands MUNIQ as a space where personal boundaries are respected and discrimination and violence have no place. This principle is documented on the festival website and shapes the communication surrounding the event.