Jazz festivals

Night after night, national and international acts shine brightly at the International Jazz Festival in Bern. Some 30,000 jazz fans get to enjoy more than 200 concerts at Marians Jazzroom, under the marquee at the Hotel Innere Enge and the Hotel Schweizerhof Bern & Spa.

The virtuoso acts performing at Marians Jazzroom in Bern are at home on all the world’s stages. An opportunity to experience live, from September to May, some of the international stars of the jazz, gospel, blues and soul scene in an intimate club setting.

As the name suggests, sparks certainly fly at the Jazzwerkstatt Bern: artists from the region and all over the world get to play together in new ensembles, presenting their ideas to keen audiences at concerts in the PROGR gym.

In January, BeJazz kicks off the New Year with a highlight, namely the winter festival at the Vidmarhallen in Bern-Liebefeld. The outdoor BeJazz Summer Festival takes place in July and August. During the concert season, BeJazz also organises two concert evenings a week, featuring contemporary jazz.

From mid-October to the end of May, the renowned Swiss Jazz Orchestra big band can be relied upon to surprise audiences with theme-based jazz music at the Bierhübeli concert venue in Bern. Expect a selection of Latin, bebop and electric music as well as concerts featuring guests from Switzerland and abroad.

The Jazz Nights in Langnau im Emmental began on a modest scale in 1991, yet this main event has been bringing the big jazz scene together in Switzerland for more than 30 years now. Alongside the main concerts at the Kupferschmiede, there is an ‘off-festival’ in the summer with jazz workshops and a diverse culinary programme.

Autumn is the season to enjoy popular jazz in Langenthal. While a Catholic parish hall may be an atypical venue for live concerts packed with jazz, swing, blues, soul, funk and gospel, thanks to the great acoustics, it is the ideal setting for the Jazz Days in Langenthal.

Every summer, the Castle Jazz and Blues Days at Oberdiessbach Castle are a delight. Expect summery-light evenings of music in the open air, on the lawns of the castle grounds.

For more than 30 years now, the Jazz Days at Lenk have been bringing vibrant music to the holiday resort every July. On each of the ten days, traditional jazz as well as blues, swing and soul concerts thrill audiences on the main stage, at the gala dinner show, and at other concerts in various hotels and restaurants.

Small-scale but all the nicer for it: in June, the Waldhotel Doldenhorn in Kandersteg sets out to spoil its guests not just with culinary treats but also with musical highlights. Over three days the jazz festival offers the perfect mix of classic jazz, blues, gospel and rock’n’roll. A special atmosphere, right in the heart of nature!

Every March, La Neuveville hosts the Boogie Woogie Festival. It’s an opportunity to enjoy a great boogie woogie show and concert tour in the mediaeval town set in the Grand Chasseral region. The festival closes with a grand finale involving all the pianists as they gather for the traditional Sunday brunch.