International St. Wendel Jazz Days – WND JAZZ

A Jazz Institution in Saarland

To truly understand the cultural depth of Saarland, one cannot overlook jazz – and certainly not St. Wendel's jazz scene. Since 1987, the Jazzförderkreis St. Wendel e.V. has been organizing a festival in the district capital of St. Wendel that has become one of the most visible jazz events in Southwest Germany. With its 35th edition in 2026, the festival reaches a remarkable anniversary – a continuity rarely seen in the German jazz festival landscape.

A Program with International Appeal

What sets WND JAZZ apart is its ambition: it doesn't feature the same US stars repeatedly, but instead focuses on contemporary European jazz creation with curatorial depth. In 2026, the focus is on the Norwegian scene – featuring Arild Andersen, one of the most influential Scandinavian double bassists, and Marius Neset, the Norwegian saxophonist, who will perform with his quartet "Cabaret." Also on the program are Adam Bałdych (Poland/Italy/France), Andreas Schaerer & Daniel García (Switzerland/Spain), and the French duo Louis Sclavis & Benjamin Moussay.

The Two Venues

The concerts are spread across two venues: the Saalbau St. Wendel in the city center, the main stage with excellent acoustics and around 600 seats, and the idyllically located Kurhaus Harschberg above the town, which is reserved for more intimate concerts and the prologue. The combination of two venues gives the festival a special rhythm: attendees move between the city center and the spa park, between the large hall and rooms suitable for chamber jazz.

Family Program "Jazz for Kids"

A special feature is the traditional family program "Jazz for Kids: Zirkus Jazzino," which introduces improvisation and jazz to the youngest visitors in a playful way. The festival sees itself not as an exclusive high-culture event, but as a facilitator of musical culture intended to take root in Saarland.

Saarland Cuisine with an Oriental Twist

For years, the association Saarkult e.V. has been responsible for catering – offering oriental dishes that add a unique touch to the intermissions. This also includes a social mission: Saarkult sees itself as a bridge between different cultures and generations.

St. Wendel and its Jazz History

St. Wendel, a district capital in northern Saarland with around 26,000 inhabitants, is not typically known as a jazz city. This is precisely what makes the festival special: it originated in 1987 from a private initiative of dedicated jazz enthusiasts who founded an association, the Jazzförderkreis, and has since become a flagship of the Saarland jazz scene. Together with the SR Saar Jazz Festival in Saarbrücken, WND JAZZ forms the backbone of the Saarland jazz season.