Established by the Europe Jazz Network (EJN), this annual Award honours a European festival, club, or venue that succeeds in delivering visionary and compelling musical experiences for its audience. 

Südtirol Jazzfestival Alto Adige was praised by the jury for its long-standing commitment to young European artists, its courageous and coherent artistic vision, and its ability to create meaningful musical encounters across the entire South Tyrol area, from urban spaces to remote and unconventional locations. 

The award winner was selected through a two-phase process: initially, the 200+ EJN member organisations from 38 countries nominated potential awardees, including non-members. Subsequently, a jury comprising EJN members and other respected music professionals convened online in May 2026 to select the winner from a shortlist of 21 nominees.

Comment by the 2026 Award jury

“The EJN Award for Adventurous Programming 2026 is presented to Südtirol Jazzfestival Alto Adige for its commitment to artistic encounters, innovative curatorial vision, and long-standing support for young European artists.

For many years, the festival remained faithful to a bold artistic direction, championing new generations of European improvisers and creative musicians even when safer and more commercial choices would have been easier. The jury particularly recognised the festival’s coherence, youthful spirit, and its ability to create meaningful encounters between artists, audiences, and places.

Beyond its programming approach, Südtirol Jazzfestival Alto Adige has developed a unique decentralised format, bringing music to unusual locations across the area, from mountain huts and caves to public squares in small towns, transforming the entire province into a space for discovery and artistic exploration.

The festival also inspires programmers and artists across Europe, demonstrating how a strong artistic identity can shape the evolution of a festival and contribute to the vitality of the European jazz scene.”

The jury 2026 was composed by: Enrico Bettinello (Circolo Controtempo, Italy), Frank van Berkel (BIMHUIS, Netherlands), Silvia Bolognesi (Artist & educator, Italy), Simon Kenda (Jazz Cerkno, Slovenia), and Mario Steidl (Previous award winner, Saalfelden Jazzfestival, Austria).

Comment by Max von Pretz, Stefan Festini Cucco and Roberto Tubaro, artistic directors of the festival

“We are honoured and delighted to receive this year’s EJN Award for Adventurous Programming. This prestigious European recognition encourages us in our future endeavours and reinforces our confidence that we are on the right path with our festival, something that matters when you are situated in the middle of the mountains.

Our approach to programming is only possible thanks to all the wonderful artists who are willing to embark on challenging adventures with us and our audience, at times despite uncertain outcomes. Working with these artists, with our partners and supporters, and with the EJN community is a constant source of inspiration. Envisioning new projects together fills us with gratitude and excitement for what lies ahead.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Klaus Widmann, the festival’s former President and Artistic Director. For almost twenty years, he remained deeply committed to his artistic vision and paved the way for the festival we continue to shape today.”

The EJN Award winners will be celebrated during the opening ceremony of the 2026 Südtirol Jazzfestival Alto Adige, on 26 June in Bolzano, and at the 12th European Jazz Conference in Cologne, Germany, on 26 September 2026, bringing together EJN members and creative music professionals from across Europe and beyond.

About Südtirol Jazzfestival Alto Adige

Today’s Südtirol Jazzfestival Alto Adige traces its history back to 1982 and the launch of “Jazz Summer”, which later became “Jazz & Other”. While in its early years the concerts were held only in Bolzano, today the festival extends across the whole region of South Tyrol.

Many concerts are unique and inseparable from their specific settings and venues. South Tyrol itself becomes a stage, with jazz music blending into its landscapes. Concerts take place in towns and villages, on mountains and alpine meadows, beside lakes and rivers, in town squares and on city streets, in parks and castles, and in historic inns and industrial spaces. The combination of urban settings, picturesque mountain locations, culinary delights and captivating music creates a distinctive festival experience. The Südtirol Jazzfestival Alto Adige runs for ten days each year, from the last Friday in June to the first Sunday in July. 

In 2026, it will take place from 26 June to 5 July, presenting 52 concerts at 35 venues across South Tyrol, with more than 100 artists taking part. The opening concert at the NOI Techpark in Bolzano will feature the captivating Gard Nilssen Supersonic Orchestra. This large ensemble will not only deliver a spectacular opening concert but also set the tone for the first festival weekend. After the opening night, the musicians will appear in various formations across different festival spaces, creating a dynamic opening chapter for the ten-day programme.

Full programme: https://www.suedtiroljazzfestival.com/ 

About the EJN Award for Adventurous Programming

Established in 2012, the EJN Award for Adventurous Programming recognises European promoters who exemplify EJN's core values through visionary and engaging musical programming.

Previous winners of the EJN Award for Adventurous Programming include: Saalfelden Jazzfestival in Austria (2025), Budapest Music Centre in Hungary (2024), A L’Arme! Festival in Germany (2023), Le Guess Who? festival in the Netherlands (2022), Jazzfest Berlin in Germany (2021), Victoria-Nasjonal Jazzscene in Norway ex-aequo with Porgy and Bess in Austria (2020), JazzFest Sarajevo in Bosnia Herzegovina (2019), Jazz Festival Ljubljana in Slovenia (2018), Tampere Jazz Happening in Finland (2017), Manchester Jazz Festival in the UK (2016), Moers Festival in Germany (2015), Jazz em Agosto in Portugal (2014), Bimhuis in the Netherlands (2013), and 12 Points Festival in Ireland (2012).

More info: https://www.europejazz.net/activity/ejn-awards

Photo: © Günther Pichler