Jazz Goes to Town 2026

The Jazz Goes to Town International Festival is a prestigious music showcase presenting contemporary Czech and international music united by a fundamental stylistic and formal inspiration drawn from jazz. The festival’s programming aims to present the broadest possible spectrum of jazz music in its many forms and expressions. The main festival lineup highlights original compositions characterised by strong artistic input and creative originality. Jazz Goes to Town avoids stagnating within the traditional programming frameworks of the large festival events of the past millennium. It is a vibrant, inspiring, creative, and unrepeatable event—one that bridges genres and styles and opens new perspectives on 21st-century jazz music.

Jazz music has always absorbed – like a big sponge – various influences, taking in traditions from all over the world. It has created a platform open to anyone’s personal input. It shows us that music needs no standardisation and that there is beauty in diversity. Even nowadays, in the era of unlimited access to any source of inspiration, its subtle nuances and idiosyncrasies persist. This year, our festival will take you on a journey. All of the performances we have selected create a map of an undiscovered island. Life on that island is full of surprises and adventures – a polar fox running alongside a capybara, coconuts ripening next to ramsons; everything is happening at the same time, at the same place. We believe that the imagination of this year’s performers will enthuse you and kindle your excitement for the next wonderful journey.