Commemorate 25 years of Jazz Days Dresden, a festival honoring resilience, with a focus on the richness of music and its diversity.

The Jazz Days Dresden, an international jazz festival in Germany, is gearing up for its 25th anniversary. Known for its stylistic openness, artistic quality, and cultural diversity, the festival has grown over the years to become Europe's largest crossover jazz festival.

With around 100 concerts annually, the festival attracts over 40,000 visitors and over 500 international artists from over 35 nations. The heart of the jubilee remains set in the Unkersdorf Church from September 19 to 21, 2025, with a program closely tied to the festival year 2001.

Managing Director Tanja Grandmontagne emphasizes the festival's commitment to open ears, bold decision-makers, and people who believe in the power of music. This ethos has been a constant thread through 25 years of festival history, and it shines particularly brightly in Unkersdorf.

However, the festival faces a significant challenge this year. The Jazz Days Dresden in 2025 faces a 55% funding cut from the city of Dresden, while general institutional music funding only decreases by an average of 3%. In response, the festival team has introduced a "Jazz all year round" concept, distributing events throughout the year, with a high content density in the autumn.

The support of funding from the city district councils in Pieschen, Loschwitz, and the old town makes the year-round concert format possible. If further funds are secured, the festival could still take place in its classic form in the autumn, with up to two months of full programming from October 2 to November 30, 2025.

The founders and hosts of the festival, the Klazz Brothers, significantly shaped the profile of the festival with their musical concept of "Jazz meets Classical meets World". Otfried Kotte from the cultural committee of the church council of the Evangelical-Lutheran parish of the Left Elbe Valley expresses support for the festival and its history.

The anniversary celebration includes a strong program, a new year-round format, and an emotional highlight in Unkersdorf. Despite the funding cuts, the festival team remains optimistic and determined to continue with their mission.

The Jazz Days Dresden started as the Unkersdorf Jazz Days in the year 2000. Over the years, it has grown to become a beloved cultural event in Germany, attracting jazz enthusiasts from around the world. As it celebrates its 25th anniversary, the festival stands as a testament to the power of music and the enduring spirit of its founders and supporters.

Commemorate 25 years of Jazz Days Dresden, a festival honoring resilience, with a focus on the richness of music and its diversity.