Written by *Editors Note: A separate full review of the Showcase Concerts will be published in the coming weeks.*
Jazzahead! was founded in Bremen, Germany, in 2006 as a trade fair and festival dedicated to jazz. Established by Messe Bremen, the event’s leadership includes Sybille Kornitschky as Head of Trade Fair & Festival, with artistic direction from Germany’s acclaimed trumpeter Uli Beckerhoff and broadcaster Peter Schulze.
Photo By: Kuba Celej | Adam Mickiewicz Institute
Their vision was to create a central meeting point for the international jazz industry, uniting musicians, promoters, festival directors, record labels, and other key stakeholders. Over the years, jazzahead! has grown from a focused trade fair into a sprawling citywide festival, transforming Bremen into a global jazz hub each April.
From its early days, jazzahead! expanded rapidly in scope and ambition. The event now features a comprehensive program of exhibitions, showcase concerts, panels, and conferences, drawing both industry professionals and the public. By 2019, it had attracted more than 25,000 visitors and over 3,400 delegates from 64 countries, with 40 showcase performances and more than 100 concerts across 30 venues. Widely regarded as the “Family Reunion of Jazz,” jazzahead! is where the global jazz community comes together to network, collaborate, and celebrate the music’s diversity. Each year, the festival spotlights a partner country or region, fostering cross-cultural exchange and highlighting jazz’s international character.
The 2025 edition of jazzahead! marked another triumphant chapter, drawing over 23,000 visitors – the highest attendance since the 2010s. From Wednesday evening to Sunday noon, Bremen buzzed with 130 concerts spanning jazz, funk, afrobeat, electronica, and more, staged across more than 40 venues. Among these were 38 international showcase concerts, including nine featuring bands from the partner region of Spain, France, and Switzerland. These showcases offered a vibrant cross-section of today’s jazz, blending young talent with established artists.
Kasiva Mutua | Photo By: Jens Schlenker
A major announcement during the closing ceremony was the selection of Sweden as the partner country for 2026. Anneli Strömqvist, Counsellor for Cultural Affairs at the Swedish Embassy in Berlin, highlighted the longstanding musical ties between Sweden and Germany, describing the focus as both recognition of Sweden’s rich jazz ecosystem and an invitation to deepen collaboration across Europe. The professional program for industry experts was equally robust, with over 3,000 registered professionals participating in 50 discussions and workshops on topics such as AI, distribution, and media trends. Notably, the launch of CooProg Music – a French-German cooperative project for sustainable and green touring – underscored jazzahead!’s role as a forward-thinking marketplace for jazz professionals.
A signature feature of jazzahead! 2025 was the Friday Clubnight on April 25, when artists from around the world performed 85 concerts throughout Bremen. Clubs, bars, museums, and theaters were packed, reflecting the event’s growing popularity. Highlights included the Bethold Records clubnight at Villa Sponte featuring French band OZMA, the Kaleidoscope Clubnight hosted by BUMA Cultuur with performances by Maaike den Dunnen and Daan Herweg Quartet, and the Clubnight hosted by Jazzmedia and More at Neusi’s with Duo Migrantes. Also of note was the performance by Tyreek McDole at the Fritz Theater. The Clubnight’s energy and diversity reinforced jazzahead!’s reputation for bringing the entire city alive with jazz, and many regional associations have already committed to hosting concerts again in 2026.
Tyreek McDole at the Clubnight | Photo by: Jens Schlenker
As jazzahead! 2025 concluded, anticipation turned to next year’s milestone: the 20th edition of the world’s largest jazz trade fair and festival, set for April 22 to 26, 2026. The event will once again host the prestigious German Jazz Prize, further cementing Bremen’s status as the epicenter of the international jazz community. With Sweden as the partner country and the continued commitment to innovation, sustainability, and artistic excellence, jazzahead! 2026 promises to be a landmark celebration – honoring two decades of shaping the future of jazz and uniting musicians, industry professionals, and fans from around the globe.
More information on Jazzahead! and the coming edition can be found on the jazzahead website.
Featured Header Image: Trade fair stands in Hall 6 | Photo by, Jan Rathke
Last modified: June 27, 2025
