Winterjazz Köln

Winterjazz Köln — Pure City Jazz on January 10, 2026

On Saturday, January 10, 2026, the 15th edition of Winterjazz Köln takes place. On four stages at Stadtgarten and the neighboring Club Zimmermanns, 14 bands will present a cross-section of the Cologne jazz scene in a single evening. Starting at 7 PM, free admission — an unusual festival concept that has shaped Cologne's jazz identity since its premiere in 2011.

Vision — Cologne and Nothing But Cologne

What sets Winterjazz apart from comparable festivals: The organizers exclusively present bands from Cologne. This exclusive focus applies not only to the selection but also to applications — booking agencies and musicians from other cities are not allowed. Thus, Winterjazz is a conscious statement for the local jazz scene, whose diversity and depth the festival showcases annually.

Program Curation — Niescier and Oster

The artistic direction has been led for years by Angelika Niescier (saxophonist, multiple winner of the German Jazz Award) and Ulla Oster (bassist, composer). Both are among the defining figures of the contemporary German jazz scene and ensure the festival's highest musical quality with accessible entry.

International Guests 2026

For the 15th anniversary edition, several international guests have been invited to perform with Cologne bands:

• Benoît Delbecq (France) — Pianist, prepared piano master
• Alexandra Grimal (France) — Saxophonist and singer
• Alexander Morsey — Bassist
• Monika Roscher — Big band leader and composer
• Cansu Tanrıkulu — Vocalist with an electronic focus

NICA live special — Pre-Festival Program January 8–9

The festival is complemented by the NICA live special on January 8 and 9, 2026: Here, NICA artist development (Cologne's artist support program) specifically presents emerging and supported projects — a prelude to the main festival on January 10.

Organizers and Sponsors

The organizers are the Initiative Kölner Jazz Haus and the artist support program NICA artist development. The festival is supported by regional cultural institutions and media partners, including WDR3 (radio partner). The venue is the Stadtgarten at Venloer Str. 40 — one of the most important venues for jazz and improvised music in Western Germany.

Cologne — Cathedral City with Jazz History

The independent city of Cologne (approx. 1.1 million inhabitants), with its university, conservatory, and WDR, is a central hub for jazz in Germany. Cologne is the hometown of artists like Albert Mangelsdorff, Wolfgang Niedecken, and numerous jazz bands of the younger generation. Winterjazz is part of this tradition — and at the same time proof that Cologne's contemporary scene is internationally competitive.