NaumburgJAZZ Festival

Jazz with a view of the Saale

Naumburg (Saale) – the underestimated cathedral city in the Burgenlandkreis, a candidate for the title of European Capital of Culture 2028 – is a city where medieval architecture and Saale-Unstrut wine culture meet. Since 2025, it has also had its own jazz festival: NaumburgJAZZ, a weekend filling two evenings in the small Ratskellersaal directly on the market square, under the stone vaults from the 16th century.

Local Roots, Prominent Guests

Behind the festival is an alliance of the association "1000mal Naumburg", the Ratskeller, and the inner-city association – precisely those players who are sharpening the city's cultural profile with a view to the Capital of Culture bid. On stage are Naumburg musicians such as the Melchior Walther Quartett, pianist Harald Köster, or Harrison & André; complemented by internationally active guests such as Cameroonian trumpeter Terrence Ngassa and, not least, the nationally known singer Sebastian Krumbiegel, voice of the Leipzig a cappella pop band Die Prinzen, who is closely connected to Naumburg.

One Stage, One Weekend

The choice of venue is part of the program: The Ratskellersaal is small – a maximum of about a hundred seats – and intimate, with historic vaults and acoustics that are perfect for club-format jazz. The atmosphere is accordingly intense, the audience close to the musicians, and with a glass of Saale-Unstrut wine in hand, the evening can be experienced in the style of a Parisian cave atmosphere – just in Saxony-Anhalt.

A Young Tradition with Ambition

With its second edition in 2026, the festival aims to consolidate its position as a cultural highlight in Naumburg in the spring. The sponsorship by 1000mal Naumburg, an association with a clear connection to the Capital of Culture bid, indicates ambition: NaumburgJAZZ is intended to grow while remaining true to its intimate club character. That's exactly what makes it appealing.