Dear Friends of Jazz, Global & Improvised Music,
Thanks to the fact that, in addition to the Austrian Federal Ministry for Arts, Culture, the Civil Service and Sport (BMWKMS), Jam Music Lab Private University Vienna, the Ö1 Jazz Editorial Team, we have also secured the City of Graz, StockwerkJazz, Steiermärkische Sparkasse, AKM/austro mechana, the Austrian Promoters Association, and others as sponsors of the Austrian Jazz Award (ÖJP), it will be possible in 2026 to provide greater financial support for the highest-ranked nominees and to offer grants for follow-up concerts.
The Austrian Jazz Summit on 28 May 2026 at Porgy & Bess also generated several new ideas: In the future, we not only want to increase the visibility of and honour musicians and artistic projects, but also recognize the individuals, initiatives, and institutions that have built and continue to sustain the infrastructure of the scene. Alongside the existing Library, which focuses on currently active artists and artistic projects, we plan to establish a Management Pool, through which organizational services—ranging from web design, booking, graphic design, and video production to production management, event management, and more—can be offered and sought. In addition, we intend to introduce a new award category in the longer term to recognize outstanding organizational contributions to Austria's Jazz, Global & Improvised Music scene.
Furthermore, by establishing a non-profit project limited liability company (GesmbH), the Austrian Jazz Award will be organizationally separated from the Austrian Music Council's (ÖMR) role as an advocacy organization. As a result, new opportunities for participation and collaboration will become available from 2027 onward.
We therefore invite you to showcase all of your artistic activities from the observation period 26 August 2025 to 25 August 2026 by registering them in the Library (which serves as the basis for trade fair presentations and social media promotion) and, in addition, by submitting your work in the categories Live Act, Album, or Newcomer by 25 August 2026 (11:59 p.m. CET). Existing entries will remain available and should be updated by the respective artists.
From now on, all Academy members also have the opportunity to nominate projectsthat they believe should definitely appear on the shortlist in one of the three award categories by sending their suggestions to admin@jazzpreis.at. We will forward these recommendations to the respective artists. All musicians who submit an entry in one of the three award categories will also become members of the Academy, provided they agree.
The Academy Voting will take place from 1 to 20 September 2026. On 1 September 2026, you will receive a personalized voting link. Please note that no votes can be cast after 20 September 2026.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact us at admin@jazzpreis.at.
We look forward to helping make your music more visible—and more widely heard.
With our warmest regards,
The Team Harald Huber (Project Director) Tina Ruprechter (Project Management) Lena Aichinger (Content Management & Social Media) Angelika Kratzig (Graphic Design) Luca Meusburger (Website) Günther Wildner (Financial Administration) Eva Maria Bauer (President, Austrian Music Council)
Our Mission
Within the framework of the Austrian Jazz Award, "Jazz" is understood as a transcultural form of musical expression characterized by an appropriate degree of improvisation. The relationship to Austria may also be expressed through the term "glocal music" (global/local). Even the earliest genres of African American music—such as ragtime, blues, New Orleans jazz, swing, as well as tango, choro, samba, rumba, and many others—had transcontinental origins. Today, these traditions have evolved into hybrid forms incorporating musical practices from virtually every region, nation, and cultural community around the globe. This diversity is also reflected in Austria's musical landscape.
What all of these sub-scenes share is that they remain underrepresented in the media. The Austrian Jazz Summit / Austrian Jazz Award initiative aims to help address this imbalance by increasing their visibility and public recognition.