The Nominees Have Been Selected!
The Jazzpreis Academy, consisting of 203 experts*, has selected a total of 34 nominees from 175 submissions in the categories “Best Live Act”, “Best Album” and “Best Newcomer”.
The annual Jazzpreis - an initiative of Österreichischer Musikrat (ÖMR), mica - music austria, IG world music, Ö1 and Porgy & Bess - sees itself as an important platform for raising the visibility of and promoting Austria’s vibrant jazz and global music scene.
For 2026, the Bundesministerium für Wohnen, Kunst, Kultur, Medien und Sport, the Stadt Graz, the Tourismusverband Region Graz, the Steiermärkische Sparkasse, the AKM/austromechana as well as the Jam Music Lab Privatuniversität Wien have been secured as funding partners, with Stockwerk Jazz Graz and the Kunstuniverstität Graz (KUG) as cooperation partners. As media partners, Ö1, ORF, Kleine Zeitung and Concerto Magazin are accompanying the award. The nominees (in alphabetical order):
Best Newcomer (2026 presented by Kleine Zeitung):
- Alois Eberl
- Amina Bouroyen
- Amir Ahmadi
- Anna Maurer
- Avin Ahmadi
- Elena Schäfer
- Eva Moreno
- Jakob Kammerer
- Lorenz Widauer
- Max Plattner
- Mina Naomi
- Raphael Preuschl
Best Album:
- ATLAS - Wolfgang Muthspiel Chamber Trio
- Faces of Night - David Helbock & Julia Hofer
- OGILSD VOBI - Georg Vogel Piano Solo
- On Her Mind - Anna Maurer
- proud - Mel* E
- Soiz - Anna Buchegger
- The Rhythm of the World - Saxofour
- Unbemanntes Raumschiff - Purple is the Color
- Until We Meet Again - Avin Ahmadi & Lorenz Widauer
- Wanting Machine II - Peter
- Rom
- Where I Go - Elena Schäfer
Best Live Act:
- Alpha Trianguli
- András Dés Quartet
- Anna Buchegger
- Jazzorchester Vorarlberg
- Martin Listabarth Trio
- Mel* E
- other:M:other
- slowklang
- TSOMBANIS4
- Upper Austrian Jazz Orchestra
- Wolfgang Muthspiel Chamber Trio
High Impact Award & Gala
For the second time, the High Impact Award (2026 presented by Steiermärkische Sparkasse) will be presented in 2026 and announced on 20.10.2026 together with the winners of the Österreichischen Jazzpreises 2026. This award honors outstanding artists for their special contributions to the development and representation of the Austrian jazz scene both nationally and internationally.
Award Ceremony and Gala 2026
The festive award ceremony will take place on 28 November 2026 at Dom im Berg in Graz from 19:30 and will be broadcast live on Ö1 and ORF on.
The press material of the nominees can be found under Downloads.