From 24 to 27 September 2026, Cologne will host the European jazz and improvised music community for the first time in Germany. The conference is co-organised by the Europe Jazz Network (EJN) together with three of its members: Stadtgarten Köln, Cologne Jazzweek and the Monheim Triennale.

Bringing together more than 200 EJN member organisations from 38 countries alongside international professionals, the event will explore the role of jazz and improvised music in fostering societal dialogue, driving cultural innovation and strengthening democratic participation.

Under the guiding title “Who We Are, What We Stand For”, the conference’s discussions and exchange formats are designed to spark dialogue and help shape the future direction of the sector.

A central element of the programme is a showcase festival presenting 13 outstanding projects from the current German jazz scene. The event will also feature the EJN Awards 2026, celebrating individuals and organisations whose work has made a lasting impact on the European jazz landscape.

A Sector in Transition

The creative music sector is currently navigating a period of economic and structural change. Rising costs, evolving funding frameworks and increasing political pressures are reshaping the professional landscape. The European Jazz Conference 2026 provides a platform for professionals to come together, share experience and develop forward-looking strategies, while exploring new approaches to sustain and evolve their work.

Societal Discourse and Professional Perspectives

The conference opens with a keynote speech by British pianist Alexander Hawkins, offering a reflection around the Conference title, “Who We Are, What We Stand For”. This is followed by a panel debate that will examine the responsibility of cultural institutions in times of crisis, as well as the role of improvised music in strengthening social cohesion. Panellists include Isabel Pfeiffer-Ponsgen (former Minister for Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia), Shabnam Parvaresh (Morgenland Festival), Eric Birath (Fasching Club & Stockholm Jazz Festival), and Daniel Zimmermann (former Mayor of Monheim am Rhein), and it will be moderated by Annefleur Schipper (journalist, online & TV creator).

The professional programme offers practical tools alongside forward-looking perspectives on key challenges facing the sector. Its thematic range spans sustainable funding models and cultural policy advocacy through to mental health in the context of precarity within the cultural field. Additional panels explore fair practices, digital visibility, and the societal impact of jazz as a catalyst for democratic participation.

The Conference’s programme committee 2026 is composed by: Karolina Juzwa - chair (Wytwórnia Foundation), Raluca Baicu (North Sea Round Town), Alex Carr (Cheltenham Festivals), Francesca Cerretani (Europe Jazz Network), Reiner Michalke (Monheim Triennale), Steve Mead (Manchester Jazz Festival), Annamaija Saarela (G Livelab Tampere), Giambattista Tofoni (Europe Jazz Network), Janning Trumann (Cologne Jazzweek), Kornelia Vossebein (Stadtgarten Köln), Stefano Zucchiatti (Europe Jazz Network).

Showcase Festival and EJN Awards 2026

Running alongside the discourse programme, a showcase festival highlights the breadth and vitality of the German scene across venues including Stadtgarten Köln, Loft and the Sartory Hall. The 13 selected ensembles were chosen by a specialist curatorial committee comprising Marie Blobel, Reiner Michalke, Louis Rastig, Annika Sautter, Janning Trumann and Kornelia Vossebein. The showcase aims to reflect the artistic quality and diversity of Germany as a creative hub within a wider European context. The programme spans formats from solo performance to larger ensembles, encompassing approaches from free improvisation to interdisciplinary work.

The line-up includes Big Breeezy’s Mumble Mafia, Cheel, Evi Filippou – Inevitable, Florian Herzog Almost Natural, GANNA, Holly Schlott – Unique, Malstrom, Neon Dilemma, the Olga Reznichenko Trio, Rabih Lahoud’s MASAA, Sera Karlo’s EX.II, Sheen Trio, and Zola Mennenhöh – A Labour of Love.

A central element of the programme is the presentation of the EJN Awards 2026, recognising outstanding contributions to the European jazz infrastructure. They will include the 15th EJN Award for Adventurous Programming, the 8th EJN Music & Community Award, and a concert by the Grand Prix winners of the 1st Ukrainian Jazz Prize: Kyiv-based Hyphen Dash, blending elements of jazz, hip-hop, electronica and fusion.

Cologne as a Centre of Innovation

As the first German host city, Cologne underscores the international profile of the region. The conference coincides with the 40th anniversary of Stadtgarten Köln, the “European Centre for Jazz and Contemporary Music”, and- through collaboration with the Monheim Triennale and Cologne Jazzweek- generates fresh momentum for creative and improvised music.

Registrations for the European Jazz Conference 2026 will open on Thursday, 30 April 2026, on the Eventbrite platform, both for EJN members and for regular participants.

For more information, please check out the Conference’s programme brochure that was presented at jazzahead! 2026.

The Europe Jazz Network is co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union.