Jazzfest Berlin

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Jazzfest Berlin

Presenting style-defining icons of jazz and young positions from a wide variety of styles.

Founded in 1964 the Berlin Jazz Festival is one of the longest running European festivals of international renown. Known as Berliner Jazztage until 1980 it was directed by Joachim-Ernst Berendt (1964-72), George Gruntz (1973-94), Albert Mangelsdorff (1995-2000), Nils Landgren (2001, 2008-11), John Corbett (2002), Peter Schulze (2003-07), Bert Noglik (2012-14) and Richard Williams (2015-17) and is curated since 2018 by the curator Nadin Deventer. Whereas famous US-jazz celebrities set the tone during the first decades, the Berlin Jazz Festival increasingly has presented artists from all around the globe, with an increasing emphasis on contemporary European jazz.

08/10/2026

At this year's , British trumpeter Laura Jurd presents her dynamic new project “Rites & Revelations” with a quintet that explores lyrics threads connecting British and Irish folk traditions with the wide-open expression of smoky post-bop. For the album’s presentation at 2026, bassist Simon Jermyn and drummer Corrie Dick will sculpt heady, elasticized rhythms that allow the material to breathe and mutate, while the trumpeter is joined on the frontline by Irish folk fiddler Ultan O’Brien (on both violin and viola) and the remarkable young guitarist Tara Cunningham.

Laura Jurd
31.10.2026
23:00
Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Side Stage

*Artist Talk with Laura Jurd, Rob Mazurek and Tomeka Reid
17:30
Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Bornemann Bar

Details & Tickets
berlinerfestspiele.de/jazzfest-berlin

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Photo: Celie Nigoumi

07/10/2026

Saturday night's action at gets underway with the return of drummer and composer Christian Lillinger’s ambitious “Open Form For Society”, presented in a world premiere by a tightly-coiled 10-piece ensemble that navigates complex grids of rhythm and harmony. The project collects many of the drummer's most trusted colleagues to multiply specific instrumental voices upon rigorously developed compositions – he calls it “a radically condensed form of chamber music”. The group will give the world premiere of music from its remarkable second album “Open Form for Society II”, where the stunning ex*****on relies on cooperation and interactive listening.

With Anna D’Errico (piano), Cory Smythe (piano), Kaja Draksler (celesta, upright piano), Elias Stemeseder (spinet, synthesizer), Georg Vogel (E-Claviton), Petter Eldh (double bass, electric bass), Jonas Westergaard (double bass), Ole Morten Vågan (double bass), Christopher Dell (vibraphone), Christian Lillinger (composition, concept, drums, electronics).

Christian Lillinger // The Tomeka Reid Quartet // CHICAGO UNDERGROUND Duo
31 October 2026
Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Main Stage

Details & Tickets
berlinerfestspiele.de/jazzfest-berlin

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Photo: Nadja Hoehfeld

06/10/2026

On the second evening of , Sheen.Trio offers a sonic reflection of a world in crisis and transformation at Jazz Club A-Trane, with music that veers from lyrical contemplation to bruising, angular exploration. Clarinetist Shabnam Parvaresh, electric guitarist Ula Martyn-Ellis and drummer Philipp Buck form a shape-shifting electric trio which toggles between complex fusion and moody sound studies.

Sheen Trio: Transitory
30 October 2026
20:00
Jazz Club A-Trane

Details & Tickets
berlinerfestspiele.de/jazzfest-berlin

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Video: Shabnam Parvaresh

02/10/2026

Back at Jazzfest Berlin, gifted composer, bandleader and improviser, Chicago cellist Tomeka Reid returns to the Festival. Early this year, acclaimed American jazz critic Nate Chinen predicted this would be “the year of Tomeka Reid”. "dance! skip! hop!", the fourth album by her long-running quartet with guitarist Mary Halvorson, bassist Jason Roebke and drummer Tomas Fujiwara, signals that the spotlight now firmly belongs to her.

Christian Lillinger // The Tomeka Reid Quartet // CHICAGO UNDERGROUND Duo
31 October 2026
18:30
Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Main Stage

Details & Tickets
berlinerfestspiele.de/jazzfest-berlin

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Photo: Laurence Miner

01/10/2026

On the second day of , New York alto saxophone virtuoso Immanuel.wilkins performs, reflecting the rigorous yet soulful post-bop explorations of his recent three-volume collection, recorded live at New York’s legendary Village Vanguard. Alongside his crackling band, Micah Thomas (piano), Ryoma Takenaga (double bass), Kweku Sumbry (drums) , Wilkins embraces the full spectrum of jazz, honouring tradition while fearlessly pushing the music into the future.

Camila Nebbia Large Ensemble // Amir ElSaffar New Quartet // Immanuel Wilkins Quartet
30 October 2026
18:30
Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Main Stage

Details & Tickets
berlinerfestspiele.de/jazzfest-berlin

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Photo: Joshua Woods

30/09/2026

Congratulations are in order for Immanuel Wilkins, who, at just 29, is among the selected fellows of the prestigious MacArthur Award. 👏👏👏

As the MacArthur Foundation noted in its announcement, Wilkins “blend[s] traditional jazz motifs with modern textures in works that reflect on historical narratives of injustice and resilience. As an instrumentalist, Wilkins exhibits flawless technical command and a clear and assured tone in composed and improvisational contexts like. He often structures his multipart compositions as emotional arcs inspired by historical events that continue to reverberate in the present day."

If you want to experience the New York alto saxophone virtuoso live, he plays the final Main Stage set at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele on the second night of .

Immanuel Wilkins Quartet

30 October 2026

Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Main Stage

Details & Tickets

berlinerfestspiele.de/jazzfest-berlin

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Photo: @ Joshua Woods

30/09/2026

The dynamic Berlin-based Argentine saxophonist and composer Camila Nebbia opens the second night of with the world premiere of the exciting new project “Camila Nebbia Large Ensemble: the darkness, overwhelming and imposing, compelled me to light my own fires”. Ahead of the concert, she tells us about the project and the inspiration behind it.

She leads an exciting international 10-piece band – in addition to a dedicated video artist, Andro Manzoni – mostly rooted in Berlin’s febrile improvised music scene. The stellar cast includes Weston Olencki (trombone), Julia Biłat (cello), Nick Dunston (double bass), Maria IJ Reich (violin), Joanna Mattrey (viola), Arne Braun (guitar), Kit Downes (keyboards), Lesley Mok (drums) and Ludwig Wandinger (electronics).

Camila Nebbia Large Ensemble
30 October 2026
18:30
Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Main Stage

Details & Tickets
berlinerfestspiele.de/jazzfest-berlin

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Video: Camila Nebbia

28/09/2026

The opening night of will conclude with the European premiere of British pianist Alexander Hawkins’ new “Willow Music”, his first large ensemble project. Hawkins tells us about his admiration for the artists performing earlier that same evening, as well as the profound influence Anthony Braxton’s music has had on his own work.

Alexander Hawkins Willow Music
29 October 2026
21:15
Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Main Stage

*Before the concert: Artist Talk with Silke Eberhard, James Fei, Alexander Hawkins and Heinrich Köbberling
17:00
Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Bornemann Bar

Details & Tickets
berlinerfestspiele.de/jazzfest-berlin

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Video: Alexander Hawkins

24/09/2026

2026 at QUASIMODO Berlin

On the opening night Norwegian singer-composer Karoline Wallace presents the German premiere of her new project “Eon”, with ideas taken from folk, rock and ambient music infuse indelible melodies woven together with visceral improvisation.
Aided by a fantastic band – reedist Signe Emmeluth, guitarist Karl Bjorå, cellist Joel Ring and drummer Martin Langlie – Wallace pushes and pulls her gorgeous, serpentine melodies through constantly morphing soundscapes.

Karoline Wallace: Eon
29 October 2026
22:30

On the second evening of , the acclaimed quartet led by New York singer, guitarist and composer Wendy Eisenberg will make its European debut.
Joined by drummer Ryan Sawyer, violinist and pedal steel whiz Mari Rubio and bassist Nick Dunston, Eisenberg presents this music in Europe for the first time. Eisenberg’s compositions reflect an abiding love for classic 70s guitar pop and country music, all of it interpreted with the improvisation elan and harmonic sophistication of the jazz their aesthetic openness is rooted within.

Wendy Eisenberg
30 October 2026
22:30

Norwegian bassist closes the third evening of at Quasimodo with his agile sextet (Exit) Knarr with Marta Warelis on piano and saxophonist Amalie Dahl leading the way, the band carves out a sound of its own.

Ingebrigt Håker Flaten (Exit) Knarr
31October 2026
22:30

comes to a rousing conclusion with the Berlin debut of Clone Row over. This knotty, jacked-up quartet led by drummer Smith Ches makes connections between jazz, funk, and punk grooves in a way that feels totally contemporary.

Ches Smith: Cone Row
1 November 2026
22:30

When the final concert of comes to an end, the night continues at QUASIMODO Berlin. This year’s traditional Afterparty is hosted by SACODE , a Berlin-based collective rooted in Afro-diasporic electronic music. Their sound moves between Afrohouse, Amapiano, Baile Funk, Batida and other global club styles.

Afterparty mit SACODE
1 November 2026
23:30
*Free admission

29 October – 1 November 2026
QUASIMODO Berlin
Details & Tickets
berlinerfestspiele.de/jazzfest-berlin

23/09/2026

A new ensemble, a new organizational system, a world premiere: after 7 years, the legendary American composer and reedist Anthony Braxton is back to . On the opening night, Braxton will lead an innovative and exciting septet featuring James Fei, Silke Eberhard, Anna Webber, Matthew Bookert, Berlinde Deman and F***y Méteier.

EROSÃO PERCUSSION TRIO // DREAM BABY DREAM // Anthony Braxton Septet // Alexander Hawkins Willow Music
29 October 2026
18:00
Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Main Stage

Details & Tickets
berlinerfestspiele.de/jazzfest-berlin

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Photo: © Berliner Festspiele Jazzfest Berlin 2019, Monika Karczmarczyk

Adresse

SchaperStr. 24
Berlin
10719

Telefon

+493025489100

Website

http://www.berlinerfestspiele.de/jazzfest

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