Jazz in Motion: The 46th Jazzfestival Saalfelden

With the final notes sounding at the Nexus yesterday evening – the musical living room of the Jazzfestival Saalfelden – the 46th edition came to a close. For four days, Saalfelden was once again a place where music could be experienced not so much as a finished product, but as a process. The 46th Jazzfestival Saalfelden recorded around 29,000 concert attendances across 56 concerts, more than half of them free of charge. Yet the true measure of the festival can hardly be captured in figures. It lies in the special moments on and off stage, in the encounters between musicians and audiences, and at the intersection of jazz and a wide variety of musical worlds.

The opening day already made it clear where the journey was heading. During the traditional mountain hike on Thursday morning, which serves as the festival’s unofficial opening, music became a way of moving through the landscape before taking over the city’s stages in the days that followed. A total of 175 artists from 26 nations brought their diverse musical ideas to Saalfelden – from concentrated improvisation to expansive ensemble projects, from fragile sounds to powerful collective energy.

Yvonne Moriel opens the Mainstage with “Strange Motion”
One of the most eagerly anticipated events was the opening concert on the Mainstage on Friday by Yvonne Moriel. The Tyrolean saxophonist and flautist, who was named “Best Newcomer” at the Austrian Jazz Prize in 2024, received the festival’s traditional commission to compose a new work. Together with her sextet, she presented “Strange Motion”, a piece characterised by openness and curiosity. Joining Moriel were Manu Mayr, Antonis Anissegos, Miriam Adefris, Toma Gouband and Max Andrzejewski – musicians with very different experiences and musical backgrounds. As Moriel herself put it, the challenge was for six individuals to become one. This was precisely where the tension of the music lay: in the constant attempt to develop something shared out of difference.

The Big Shake – and a moment to remember
One of the festival’s emotional highlights took place right in the heart of the city. “The Big Shake” set off from the Town Hall Square and made its way to the Stadtpark as a marching band of around 70 musicians. Shake Stew, led by Lukas Kranzelbinder, came together with the Bürgermusik Saalfelden and the Eisenbahner Stadtkapelle Saalfelden.

Ten years after Shake Stew’s first international successes, jazz, brass-band music and improvisation came together in a musical procession through the city, full of energy and inspiration. The music seemed to move towards the people, dissolving the traditional boundaries between stage and audience and creating one of those rare moments capable of bringing tears to the eyes.

Improvisation is also a question of attitude
The fact that improvisation in Saalfelden is not merely a musical technique was also evident beyond the setlists. Last-minute, illness-related cancellations presented challenges for the festival team. Replacements were found, schedules adapted and musicians stepped in at short notice. The team responded with the same flexibility that characterises good improvisation: listening, reacting and moving forward.

For those unable to be in Saalfelden in person, there were also opportunities to experience the atmosphere of the festival. Ö1 broadcast the Saturday concerts by the Darius Jones & Otomo Yoshihide Quintet and the Chicago Underground Duo live, while also recording further concerts. In addition, Ö1 hosted an Ö1 ‘Kulturtalk’, focusing on the festival programme and current issues surrounding jazz.

Music in Motion
In its 46th edition, the Jazzfestival Saalfelden once again confirmed its role as an internationally renowned cultural event with deep roots in the region. It is a place for musical discovery as well as encounters: between artists and audiences, between international perspectives and regional traditions, and between nature, the town and the concert hall.
The 46th Jazzfestival Saalfelden once again demonstrated that its strength lies precisely in this: keeping music in motion.

Artistic Director Mario Steidl: “Above all, what remains at the end of the festival is a feeling of euphoria and the desire to continue working with all these wonderful artists, to create moments and open up spaces.”

Marco Pointner, organiser of the Jazzfestival Saalfelden: “The Jazzfestival Saalfelden celebrated its 46th edition this year and can once again look back on an extremely successful festival. With around 29,000 concert attendances, we were able to increase the number of visits slightly compared with the previous year. Ticket sales also came close to the record result achieved in 2025. Particularly encouraging is the continued development of our audience. Alongside numerous international guests and a growing number of younger visitors, the festival’s strong regional roots remain firmly in place. This once again confirms the Jazzfestival’s role as an internationally renowned cultural event with deep roots in the region.”

The Jazzfestival Saalfelden also remains an important economic driver for Saalfelden Leogang. The event makes a significant contribution to the region’s tourism economy and strengthens Saalfelden Leogang’s position as an internationally recognised destination for culture and events.
The festival was organised with a total budget of around €880,000. Thanks to solid economic development and strong demand, the festival can once again look back on a successful year in 2026.

Following another successful edition, attention is already turning to the future: 
Next year, the 47th Jazzfestival Saalfelden will once again bring together musicians and music enthusiasts from around the world, transforming the town for several days into a unique hub of the international jazz scene.

“3 Days of Jazz” Festival Saalfelden Leogang: 22–24 January 2027
47th Saalfelden Jazz Festival: 19–22 August 2027