Ninth “3 Days of Jazz” in Saalfelden Leogang

The “3 Days of Jazz Saalfelden Leogang” has once again established itself as a highlight in the winter calendar of the jazz scene in 2026. From 23 to 25 January 2026, the compact yet artistically curated winter edition of the renowned Jazzfestival Saalfelden transformed the mountain region into a lively laboratory for contemporary jazz. Featuring national and international artists, extraordinary venues, and an impressive variety of music, the festival offered a weekend full of discoveries — and, with an occupancy rate of 95%, marked a strong start to the music year 2026.

 

Cinematic opening: Jazz in Austria – From Liberation to a New Beginning
Even before the official festival opening on Thursday evening, a free film screening at Kunsthaus Nexus kicked off the event. The ORF documentary “Jazz in Austria – From Liberation to a New Beginning” is a German-language chronicle that vividly and entertainingly depicts how jazz became a symbol of social renewal and cultural freedom after 1945. Andreas Felber, one of the film’s producers, attended the screening and later answered questions from the audience.

 

Friday: An evening of contrasts in the church and at Nexus
Friday evening officially launched the festival in Saalfelden’s parish church. The duo of Swiss pianist Colin Vallon and French cellist Vincent Courtois presented their album “A Simple Fall” with minimalist, lyrical pieces. In the church’s atmosphere, the musicians created a rare, deeply moving intensity.

Afterwards, the audience moved to Kunsthaus Nexus, where Robinson Khoury and his trio MŸA continued the program. Their electroacoustic soundscapes, interwoven with Middle Eastern scales and a blend of world jazz, post-rock, and experimental electronics, produced a dense and multi-layered sonic cosmos. The trio impressed with rhythmic precision and atmospheric intensity.

The evening closed with Jazzorchester Vorarlberg feat. Martin Eberle & Benny Omerzell, celebrating its 20th anniversary with “Sonus Variegate”. The musical journey ranged from electronic beats to the warm richness of brass and woodwinds, from sacred silence to powerful outbursts — a powerful finale to the night.

 

Saturday: Dance, grooves, and boundary-crossing
Saturday was all about contrasts and musical diversity. The day began with a free lunchtime concert at AsitzBräu, in the heart of the Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn. The Wango Tangos set the mood with rockabilly classics from Elvis, Dolly Parton, and Johnny Cash, delivering a lively atmosphere and danceable energy despite ski boots.

At Kunsthaus Nexus, the Joanna Duda Trio followed in the evening, presenting “Delighted.” Driving grooves, delicate sound structures, warm tones, and improvisational freedom merged into a distinctive, flowing sound. Immediately after, the Sélène Saint-Aimé String Trio presented a jazz reinterpretation of cultural identity, reminiscent of a musical journey across continents.

The evening concluded with the Icelandic band ADHD. Moving between jazz, rock, ambient, and folk, the charming quartet created a virtuosic and intense sonic universe.

 

Sunday: Between words, music, and space at the Mining and Gothic Museum Leogang
Festival Sunday took place in the intimate setting of the Mining and Gothic Museum Leogang. In the morning, the duo Sofia Labropoulou & Christian Reiner opened the day with an improvised dialogue of music and poetic recitation. The combination of sound and language created a narrative depth that made the Sunday particularly intense.

The festival finale was delivered by Jelena Popržan — with viola, voice, looper, jaw harp, and glass harp. Her solo performance was full of humor, surprises, and unforgettable moments — an apt and deeply emotional closing chord to a weekend full of discoveries.

 

Conclusion: A winter festival with international resonance
The “3 Days of Jazz Saalfelden Leogang” 2026 was more than a festival — it was a sound space filled with intensity and a spirit of discovery, ranging from chamber music intimacy to powerful electronic energy. Through extraordinary venues, an international lineup, and openness to new music, the festival once again confirmed itself as an important fixture in the European jazz landscape.

A special highlight was the festival’s sustainable approach: organized as a GREEN EVENT SALZBURG, it relied on environmentally friendly measures — from regional food and drinks to waste reduction.

The journey continues in summer: the 46th Jazzfestival Saalfelden will take place from 20 to 23 August 2026, offering music lovers from around the world a diverse program of contemporary sounds and new formats in the midst of breathtaking mountain scenery.
Tickets go on sale on 9 February 2026 online at www.jazzsaalfelden.com