Jazzfest Bonn 2025

In the organizer's words:

For over 15 years, the Jazzfest Bonn has been passionately bringing the whole variety of contemporary jazz to life. Its varied program reflects all facets of this music. The audience not only experiences surprising musical discoveries, but also unforgettable moments of encounter and fellowship. The festival thus captivates jazz newcomers and confirmed fans alike.

Jazzfest Bonn opens the doors to the vibrant world of improvised music and makes this highly relevant part of cultural life in Germany accessible to a broad and diverse audience. With over 30 concerts and several thousand enthusiastic visitors every year , the festival has established itself as a key event beyond the borders of Europe. The festival sets the highest standards for musical quality at its events, which are always sold out.

At Jazzfest Bonn, not only world-class artists are in the spotlight, but also up-and-coming young musicians and the "stars of tomorrow". In rousing single and double concerts, they present mainly their own compositions, but also contemporary interpretations of well-known works. The festival is continuously committed to promoting young talent and offering promising musicians from all over the world a professional environment.

Whether during the main season in spring or in numerous special concerts, the Jazzfest Bonn transforms the city into a temporary jazz metropolis every year. The acoustically and architecturally sophisticated concert venues throughout Bonn give the Jazzfest Bonn a unique flair and enable outstanding concert experiences for musicians and audiences alike.

From the majestic basilica of Bonn Cathedral to the renowned Bonn Opera House and the loungy Post Tower to the ultra-modern Telekom Forum, the festival fills the city with the captivating sounds of creative, improvised music. It thus fills a gap in the cultural offerings of the music city of Bonn and the region and gives everyone access to this art form in a dignified and appropriate setting.

Jazzfest Bonn was founded in 2009 by saxophonist Peter Materna, who acts as Artistic Director and Managing Director. Together with his professional team, he has shaped Jazzfest Bonn into an important player in the German and international cultural landscape.

Strong partnerships are an integral part of Jazzfest Bonn's recipe for success. Numerous sponsors make it possible to cover the costs of the festival mainly from private commitment and ticket sales. Only a small part of the financing comes from public funds. As media partners, Deutschlandfunk, Deutsche Welle, WDR3 and the General-Anzeiger Bonn contribute to increasing the visibility of this extraordinary festival with their reporting and concert recordings.