Jazzfestival Saalfelden receives the 14th EJN Award for Adventurous Programming

Jazzfestival Saalfelden was praised by the jury for continually reinventing itself throughout its history, bravely exploring uncharted musical territories, and harmoniously integrating its programme with the local communities and stunning natural landscapes. Established by EJN, this annual Award honours a European festival, club, or venue that succeeds in delivering visionary and compelling musical experiences for its audience. The award winner was selected through a two-phase process: initially, the 200+ EJN member organisations from 36 countries nominated potential awardees, including non-members. Subsequently, a jury comprising EJN members and respected music professionals convened online in March 2025 to select the winner from a shortlist of 23 nominees.

Comment from the Award Jury 2024: “The jury selected Saalfelden Jazzfestival as the winner of the 2025 EJN Award for Adventurous Programming, highlighting its exceptional artistic quality and innovative community integration. Celebrating its 45th edition this year, the festival was praised for creatively utilising diverse urban and mountain spaces and seamlessly collaborating with local businesses, enriching the cultural fabric of the entire region. Its bold, diverse, risk-taking programming and close interaction between artists, audience, and the breathtaking natural surroundings have made it influential among musicians and fellow programmers alike. Additionally, the festival’s commitment to ecological sustainability underscores its forward-thinking vision, setting a remarkable standard in Europe's creative music community.”

The jury 2025 was composed by: Tania Giannouli (artist, Greece), Ragnhild Menes (Kongsberg Jazz Festival, Norway), Pedro Costa (Clean Feed label & promoter, Portugal), Wim Wabbes (EJN honorary member, Belgium), Hernádi Zsolti (previous Award winner, Budapest Music Centre, Hungary).

Comment by Mario Steidl, Artistic Director of Jazzfestival Saalfelden: “The most beautiful thing about this award is its title – adventurous programming… Honouring curiosity, risk taking and the creation of new formats is so much nicer than getting stuck in superlatives like „biggest“, „fastest“ or „best“. It is a recognition of a mindset. And that makes me more than happy. I see this award as an encouragement to keep exploring and to stay connected – with the artists, the audience, and the issues that move us as a society…”

The winner of the 2025 Award for Adventurous Programming will be celebrated at the 45th edition of Jazzfestival Saalfelden, scheduled for 21-24 August 2025, and at the 11th European Jazz Conference in Bari, Italy, from 25 to 28 September 2025, bringing together EJN members and creative music professionals from across Europe and beyond.

About Jazzfestival Saalfelden - Free space meets the unexpected
How much freedom does music need to unfold? The Saalfelden Jazz Festival has been inviting people to the breathtaking mountain region of the so-called Steinernes Meer for over 45 years, creating spaces for encounters, curiosity, creativity and exchange over four days in August.

More than 60 concerts and hikes with improvised music, spontaneous sessions in unusual places in an atmosphere of informal hospitality and lightness: these are the characteristics of this festival, which attracts musicians and visitors from the most diverse regions. 

• The 45th edition will take place from 21 - 24 August 2025; the full programme will be presented on 12 June 2025;
• Tickets can be ordered online via: https://www.jazzsaalfelden.com/en;

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: 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) and many more. https://www.europejazz.net/activity/ejn-awards

About the Europe Jazz Network

Europe Jazz Network (EJN) was founded in 1987 as a non-profit association of promoters and presenters of live music. EJN currently represents over 200 organizations (festivals, clubs, concert venues, and national/regional organizations) across 36 countries and is supported by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union (2025-2028). EJN’s mission is to support, promote, and develop jazz, creative and improvised music across Europe, facilitating connections between artists, organizers, and audiences from diverse backgrounds. https://www.europejazz.net/