Urban Jazz Festival

Birdland Hamburg – A Hamburg Jazz Club with Tradition

For decades, Birdland Hamburg at Gärtnerstraße 122 in the Hoheluft-West district (Eimsbüttel borough) has been one of the most important venues on Hamburg's jazz scene. Named after the legendary New York club, Birdland is a meeting point for die-hard jazz fans and industry professionals performing in Hamburg. Small, intimate, with acoustics that make every breath of the musicians audible – a classic jazz club in the best sense.

Urban Jazz – Contemporary and Transcending Boundaries

The Urban Jazz Festival consciously positions itself against mainstream jazz: not the standards of the 1950s, not the established big band repertoire, but contemporary bands that oscillate between genres. Hip-hop, electronic influences, improvisation, world music elements – this is the spectrum the festival brings together in 2026.

2026 Program

Friday, March 20, 2026

• Benny Greb Trio with Jean Yanochkin and Ralph Klinzmann – the Hamburg-based drummer as bandleader
• Nuhussel Orchestra – China Tour Special
• Alou String Quartet

Saturday, March 21, 2026

• Lychee Lassi – Berlin hip-hop/turntablism ensemble (celebrated their 25th anniversary at Birdland in 2024)
• Sophia Göken Large Ensemble – 17-piece contemporary jazz ensemble
• Searching for Home – 11-piece genre-crossing collective

Doors and Start Times

Doors open at 7:00 PM on both evenings, music starts at 8:00 PM. Due to the intimate size of Birdland, arriving early is recommended – day passes and two-day combo tickets are available via tixforgigs.com.

Hoheluft as a Jazz Quarter

The Hoheluft-West district in the Eimsbüttel borough is one of Hamburg's most jazz-friendly neighborhoods, with Birdland as its anchor. Getting there by U-Bahn line U3 (Hoheluftbrücke) or U2 (Christuskirche) is convenient. By car: parking spaces in side streets are scarce; public transport is recommended.