jazzahead! 2026 has made a first-time publication: prior to its normal annual announcement of the bands and artists which are selected to appear at the showcases in April 2026 – these are to be announced at the end of November – preliminary shortlists for each category are published today.
There were 821 applications from all over the world and 94 are now shortlisted. The juries in each category are set to whittle these lists down to the final 38 who will appear in Bremen. The list of bands who will be showcasing will be released at the end of November.
A significant development is that the number of applications from the UK doubled from 2025 to 2026, testament to the work which has gone in from the organisers, from jazzahead’s UK ambassador Nick Brown, and of Peter Conway who has produced the Clubnights in 2024 and 2025, to build awareness of the benefits of participating in jazzahead and to create a visible UK presence at the world’s biggest jazz industry/community gathering, trade fair and conference.
Jazzahead 2026 runs from 23 to 26 April, and is preceded by an opening night gala concert which will feature KNOWER from LA and the Norrbotten Big Band from the Arctic Circle in Sweden, the 2026 Partner Country.
EUROPEAN SHOWCASES “EAST AND WEST” (16 shortlisted/ UK names in bold)
Aleph Quintet BE
Alina Bzhezhinska / Alina Bzhezhinska & Tony Kofi Duo UK
Bruno Heinen Trio UK
I’m Not Done Cooking BE
La Via Del Ferro IT/UK
Jasmine Myra UK
L’Antidote FR/IT/AU
Laura Jurd UK
N∆BOU BE
Niklas Lukassen NL/IT/UK/DE
Peter Samuah Group NL
Rob Luft Trio UK/SE
Rosie Frater-Taylor UK
Sol Jang Trio NL
Tyn Wybenga’s Brainteaser Orchestra NL
Wajdi Riahi Trio BE
EUROPEAN SHOWCASES “SOUTH MIDDLE NORTH” – (16 shortlisted)
Adam Ben Ezra Duo PT/ES
Aksel Rønning Trio NO
Anaïs Drago Drago – Relevé IT
David Helbock AT
Emil Storløkken Åse’s PHØNIX NO
Georgios Tsolis Quartet GR
Juke Pukl – Analog AI SI/US/FR/DE
Klawo PL
KNOBIL CH
Marco Centasso IT/FR/TU
mohs. CH
Nana Rashid DK
Petros Klampanis – Latent Info feat. Kristjan Randalu & Ziv Ravitz GR/US/EE
Sanyu NO
the BIG TUSK CH
yvonne moriel :: sweetlife AT
PARTNER COUNTRY SWEDEN SHOWCASES (18 shortlisted)
Agnas Bros. SE
Akram Abdulfattah SE/PS/IE
Bach Jazz SE
Bitoi SE
Britta Virves Trio SE
Daniel Karlsson Trio SE
Emil Brandqvist Trio SE
Gustav Lundgren Quartet SE
Hederosgruppen SE
Henning Ullén SE
Joel Lyssarides Trio SE
Langendorf United SE
Linnea Jonsson Group SE/NO
Naoko Sakata SE
Nina Sparks Riot SE
Sara Aldén SE
Thomas Backmann SE
Tobias Wiklund – “Inner Flight Music” SE
GERMAN JAZZ EXPO SHOWCASES (21 shortlisted)
Àbáse DE
Anne Mette Iversen’s Ternion Q Expanded DE
Bonsai DE
Brigade Futur 3 DE
CHRIS JENNINGS’ 5 Ways Home DE/FR
CRUTCHES DE
Destinesia DE
Expand DE
Filippou & Lucaciu DE
Gert Kapo Band DE
KILDAN World Quintet DE
KRISTINA4 DE
Matthias Schwengler’s – Soulcrane & Laurent Derache DE/FR
Nils Wogram Muse DE/CH
NYMMER DE
RE:CALAMARI DE
Richard Koch – Rays of Light DE
SANUYÉ DE
Sorvina DE
Treibgut Ensemble DE
VIBE FACTOR feat OMAR SOSA, JOO KRAUS & DIEGO PIÑERA DE
OVERSEAS AND JAZZ FROM AFRICA (23 )
Adam O’Farrill’s ELEPHANT US
ADÉDÈJÌ NG
Carlos Sarduy & Groove Messengers CU
Dayramir González V.I.D.A. Afro Cuban Jazz Quintet US/CU
Esinam & Sibusile GH/ZA
FlamenKora SN/US/ES
Giveton Gelin US/BS
Jeremy Ledbetter Trio CA
JOZÉFINN’ AUSTRAL VIEW (J.A.V.) RE/ZA/MG/FR
Kossi Mawun TG
Malika Zarra US/FR
Michael Pipoquinha BR
Orchestra Baobab SN
Rémi Cormier CA
SAHAD SN
Sharon Mansur Trio IL
Simon Moullier Quartet US
Skyjack ZA/CH
Steven Feifke US
Sydney Mavundlar Quartet ZA
Tarun Balani IN
Tonina US/UK/IT
Weedie Braimah and the hands of time US
