SAVE THE DATE of the next European Jazz Conference: 25 to 28 September 2025 in Bari, Italy. The conference is co-organised by EJN and the EJN member Puglia Sounds.
The title of the 2025 conference is 'Somewhere Called Home', and the theme is focussed on the positive contribution that migrants - and global movements of people - play in the development of culture and diversity, and the vital role that culture must play in tackling the present societal challenges. It’s a theme that our host location has actively embraced over centuries. The title 'Somewhere Called Home', inspired by Norma Winstone’s 1987 ECM album, captures the theme, reflecting the universal search for belonging, and the profound connections that music can create. You can find here a more detailed presentation of the theme, and here an outline of the 4-days Conference programme.
The European creative music community will convene in Bari, Puglia, from September 25 to 28, 2025, for the 11th European Jazz Conference, a leading annual meeting for professionals in jazz, creative, and improvised music. This unique event gathers over 400 delegates from 40 countries, including promoters, cultural managers, agents, artistic directors of festivals and venues, and representatives of national and regional support organisations.
As the only event of its kind in Europe, the conference fosters long-lasting professional relationships, new projects and collaborations, knowledge sharing, and insights into the latest trends in the field. It also highlights global music scenes and best practices, including those beyond Europe.
The event in Bari will serve as a prestigious platform for Apulian and Italian music, offering four days of live performances and meetings in some of the city’s most iconic venues. The Conference in Bari is co-organised by EJN and Puglia Culture as part of the Puglia Sounds initiative, a regional music development project in collaboration with the Puglia Region. Puglia Sounds has been a member of the Europe Jazz Network since 2012, the same year it hosted the network’s General Assembly in Bari.
The European Jazz Conference features keynote speeches and panels on key topics of the music sector, high-level discussion groups and workshops, networking sessions for music professionals, cultural tours, and a showcase festival highlighting the host country’s top artists. Previous editions took place in Ghent (Belgium, 2024), Marseille (France, 2023), Sofia (Bulgaria, 2022), Tallinn (Estonia, 2021), Novara (Italy, 2019), Lisbon (Portugal, 2018), Ljubljana (Slovenia, 2017), Wroclaw (Poland, 2016), Budapest (Hungary, 2015), and Helsinki (Finland, 2014).
EJN and its activities are currently supported by the European Union’s Creative Europe programme for cultural networks from 2025 to 2028.
For detailed information on how to reach the city. of Bari please check this document.
