The buzz of anticipation – 38 times! Showcase acts for April 2026 now announced

Several weeks of deliberation by the juries are now over, and the bands who will play the showcase concerts at the jazzahead! trade fair from 23 to 25 April 2026 have been decided. THE FULL LIST IS HERE.

Artists from over 20 countries will have the opportunity to perform for a global audience and thousands of industry specialists in Bremen.

The final lists for the 38 showcases were decided by international juries. The 30 voting members are themselves curators and event organisers. “We only give the jurors essential guidelines covering gender, diversity and territorial balance – stylistically, they have complete freedom. This is because the professionals who attend jazzahead! are also individuals with different preferences and booking habits,” says Götz Bühler, who is the jazzahead! representative on all five juries.

The band selection for jazzahead! will once again reflect huge variety and diversity in 2026. Latin, hiphop, funk, metal, electronica, singer-songwriters, and experimental music will all feature in the programme on the two stages in Hall 7, and in the Schlachthof cultural centre next door to the fair.

Edin Bahtijaragic, director of Victoriateatern in Malmö and a member of the seven-person jury for partner country Sweden, reflects on the process: „I was looking for a unique expression on stage and for bands to have a shot at international success. Also – how well versed are they in the business? Are they ready to meet business professionals and prepare EPKs and other assets? If I had to pick one it would be Langendorf United – it’s time for the world to discover this wonderful band!”

From Stockholm to Lomé: four bands out of 38

Langendorf United is Stockholm saxophonist Lina Langendorf’s quintet. The bandleader developed her “funkified, psychedelic Ethio-jazz fusion“ during extended stays in African countries such as Mali and Ethiopia.

Knobil, the French-language chanson project of Swiss double bassist and singer Louise Knobil, exudes a similarly boundless innovative power. The live performances of her trio, which range from post-bop to ‘glitter jazz’, are already creating a huge impact.

In the third year of its ‘Jazz from Africa’ focus, jazzahead! is in the process of putting in a pan-African network in place with their partners. In 2026, one band from Senegal and one from South Africa will play in Bremen. For the first time ever, an application was received from Togo. It is a safe prediction that drummer Kossi Mawun will be one of the major discoveries for jazzahead’s knowledgeable audience. With role models such as Art Blakey in mind, and following an appearance as the support act for Makaya McCraven, Kossi combines West African percussion traditions, voodoo rhythms and modern jazz.

jazzahead! also showcases the widening horizons of German jazz to include artists who do not primarily see themselves as jazz musicians. Berlin-based singer Sorvina grew up in New York City. With her quintet, she references her gospel roots and combines them with elements of neo-soul and rap.

This young artist’s jazzahead! performance underscores the broadening visibility of the trade fair in the context of the entire German music scene. And this surge in interest also reflects the state of the music industry, in which live appearances are more important than ever. Never before have there been so many applications from acts based in Germany: no fewer than 175 bands applied for one of just eight slots in the showcases. This is a massive increase compared to the previous year: there were 82% more applications from Germany, and a 35% rise in applications overall, in total 821 bands applied from 43 countries.

In the meantime, data for all 38 bands has been entered into the sustainability project CooProg Music. The new Green Touring platform has the objective of making touring more efficient, viable and ecologically sustainable. Bookers across Europe looking for outstanding live acts for April 2026 can participate in international tours via this open-source solution.

NOTES FOR JOURNALISTS
Further information, dates and links to audio/video material related to all the showcase artists will follow in early January 2026.

In our digital press kit, you will find the latest press information, additional photos, logos and a social media kit:

Digital press kit
Password: ja!26_Press_kit

Would you like to conduct an interview with the participating artists? We’d be happy to arrange it.

Please register using the accreditation form: https://jazzahead.de/press/#accreditation.

TICKETS
Tickets are available from Nordwest Ticket at advance booking offices, by telephone on 0421 – 36 36 36 and via their own web shop. Tickets are also available from the ticket service at the Glocke (0421 – 33 66 99), at the Weser-Kurier press office, at all regional newspaper offices or online at https://jazzahead.de/.

For participants of jazzahead! 2026, admission to the showcase concerts is included in the trade fair registration.

You can download images from the following links:

Photo 1: Langendorf United © Magnus Bergström
Photo 2: Knobil © Pierre Daendliker
Photo 3: Kossi Mawun © Enok Tsevi & Accra Jazz Festival
Photo 4: Sorvina © Shannon Kone

Copyright press photos:
Press photos may only be used for editorial purposes in connection with M3B GmbH events. The copyrights are held by M3B GmbH/photographer. Utilisation and exploitation rights are held by M3B GmbH. Press photos that are used for editorial purposes must be labelled with the corresponding source. Printing and publication of the press photos is free of charge. We ask print media for a specimen copy and electronic media (Internet) for a brief notification. Commercial use of the press photos requires prior written authorisation.

More information:
MESSE BREMEN · M3B GmbH
Jan Paersch | T +49 173 3250836
press@jazzahead.de
Web: jazzahead.de

www.messe-bremen.de