Dixieland Festival Dresden with 33 bands from nine countries

The Dresden International Dixieland Festival plans to present 33 bands from nine countries at its 54th edition in May next year. "The premier league of traditional jazz will still be playing in Dresden in 2026, and at the same time we are deliberately appealing to a young, curious audience with new formats," explained festival spokesperson Hendrik Meyer.

More than 250 hours of music - almost half of it free of charge - are on the program. Around 350,000 visitors are once again expected to attend the spectacle from May 10 to 17. Advance ticket sales start this Friday.

"World capital of Dixieland"

"On the one hand, we have the big, established events that set new standards every year. And at the same time, we create space for something new, for exciting, top-class formats and the enthusiasm of young musicians - and therefore also for a young audience," emphasized Meyer.

Dresden claims to host the oldest and largest festival for traditional jazz and therefore confidently describes itself as the "world capital of Dixieland".

Security costs as a challenge

For the latest edition, the organizer is facing major challenges due to extensive terror protection measures, especially for the "Dixieland Parade" on the streets of the Elbe city and the "Jazz Mile". "Terror protection is a task for the entire state. Neither associations nor cultural organizers can bear the immense costs of counter-terrorism alone in the long term," it said.

The festival is therefore calling for a uniform nationwide regulation that ensures planning security. "We are continuing to seek dialogue with the authorities and hope for a timely solution that both meets the increased security requirements and does not place an excessive burden on our budget," explained the organizer.