Festival Women in Jazz Halle
International jazz festival with a female touch
About Women in Jazz
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Women in Jazz al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
A festival that filled a gap
When Ulf Herden and Janis Kapetsis founded the Festival Women in Jazz in Halle in 2006, the question was not academic: Why do so few women play on the big jazz stages? The festival was intended to "offer the international scene of female artists in jazz a unique platform in the cultural city of Halle." The opening concert on February 2, 2006, with Japanese pianist Hiromi Uehara set the tone — international, sophisticated, without pretense. 20 years later, Women in Jazz has become one of Germany's most prominent jazz festivals.
What makes the festival special
The programming combines world-famous names with discoveries. Hiromi Uehara, Esperanza Spalding, Tigran Hamasyan, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Dee Dee Bridgewater — almost all the important voices of the contemporary jazz scene have performed in Halle. Every year, the Next Generation Women in Jazz competition runs parallel, inviting young female musicians from all over Europe. The City of Halle Jazz Award is presented as part of the festival.
Venues across the city
Women in Jazz uses Halle as a whole: Opening and closing concerts take place at the Opera House, major solo concerts at the Georg-Friedrich-Händel-Halle, chamber music programs in the Pauluskirche and the Georgenkirche, and the SWH-Saalejazz opens on the Peißnitzinsel as a free open-air concert. The festival moves through the entire city — and attracts audiences from Berlin, Leipzig, and Magdeburg.
Halle in the state of Saxony-Anhalt
Halle (Saale) is the largest city in the state of Saxony-Anhalt and has been a center of music for centuries — Georg Friedrich Händel was born here, and the university bears his name. Women in Jazz fits into this tradition, adding a contemporary, international, and feminist dimension. The patron is State Minister Rainer Robra; the festival is supported by the state of Saxony-Anhalt and the City of Halle.
Women in Jazz — edition 2026
In 2026, Women in Jazz celebrates its 21st edition — marking the fifth chapter following its 20th anniversary. Festival directors Ulf Herden and Janis Kapetsis pose the question: "Who determines the future of jazz?" The program addresses this question with five internationally acclaimed artists, a high-caliber young talent competition, and a free open-air concert on the Peißnitzinsel. Main period: May 2–9, 2026, with an additional concert on June 8, 2026.
Programme Women in Jazz 2026
Sunday, May 3, 2026 — SWH-Saalejazz Open Air
- Open-air concert on the Peißnitzinsel (free admission)
Thursday, May 7, 2026 — Opening
- Opening concert at the Opernhaus Halle with Somi Kakoma (USA, crossover jazz with East African roots)
Friday, May 8, 2026
- Georg-Friedrich-Händel-Halle: Angélique Kidjo (Benin, 5-time Grammy winner)
Saturday, May 9, 2026 — Closing
- Oper Halle: Eva Klesse Quartett (Winner German Jazz Award 2025) + Nubya Garcia (UK, Saxophone)
Further program items
- Kirke Karja & Kadri Voorand (Estonia) — Jazz from Estonia
- Next Generation Women in Jazz — Young talent competition featuring Pinar Tatlikazan Quartet, among others
- Awarding of the City of Halle Jazz Prize
- Concerts in Pauluskirche and Georgenkirche
- Additional date on June 8, 2026
Full program listing and all performance times at womeninjazz.de.
Highlights Women in Jazz 2026
Prices Women in Jazz 2026
Practical information — Women in Jazz
Getting there
Halle (Saale) is an ICE stop (45 minutes to Leipzig, 1 hour to Berlin). All venues are located in the city center and are within walking distance or accessible by tram (lines 2, 4, 5, 7). The Peißnitzinsel can be reached on foot via the Peißnitzbrücke or by tram (stop Burg Giebichenstein).
Tickets
Advance sales are available through the festival website and the respective venues (Oper Halle, Händel-Halle). Students receive discounts (e.g., €16 for the Angélique Kidjo concert in category 3). The open-air concert on the Peißnitz is traditionally free.
Around the festival
Halle offers many restaurants and cafés in the old town around the Marktplatz, Hallmarkt, and Kleine Ulrichstrasse. Hotels are usually well-booked during this season — early reservation is recommended.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
Max. 5 photos, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Spotted an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Each suggestion is reviewed by our team before being published.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Women in Jazz al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Where it takes place Women in Jazz
Oper Halle, Georg-Friedrich-Händel-Halle, Pauluskirche, Georgenkirche, Peißnitzinsel
Universitätsring 24, 06108 Halle (Saale)