Eight days of jazz anniversary celebrations in Dresden

Eight days of jazz anniversary celebrations in Dresden

At the third attempt:
50th INTERNATIONALES DIXIELAND FESTIVAL takes place from 15 to 22 May 2022

The anniversary originally due two years ago, the 50th INTERNATIONALES DIXIELAND FESTIVAL Dresden, will finally take place at the third attempt from 15 to 22 May 2022, to the delight of organisers, fans and visitors.

The varied programme offers 41 events, with 42 bands and soloists from ten countries on 35 festival stages, totalling over 230 hours of music. Alongside outstanding concerts, the now legendary city-centre Jazzmeile offers over 115 hours of free jazz with international and German musicians. In total, 280 musicians participate.

Eight days cater for every musical taste, including family events for all ages. Offerings range from first-class jazz concerts and informal events for dancing, relaxing and socialising to club concerts and highlights such as Riverboat-Shuffle. All events have accessible entry. A dedicated event for people with disabilities traditionally attracts visitors travelling specifically from across Germany.

For the first time, Heide-Dixieland visits the Hofewiese beer garden in the Dresdner Heide. Other additions include Dixieland Beach Party at the Ballsport-Arena beach area and Hotjazz im Bärenzwinger. A first Dixieland church service with children’s programme takes place on 22 May 2022 at two Feldschlößchen stages on Prager Straße.

In almost 50 years, Dresden’s jazz festival has experienced unique, wonderful moments and overcome difficulties, including the political transition years that severely affected cultural life elsewhere. Its organisers used the new freedom to invite worldwide musicians more easily to Dresden’s increasingly famous stages. This year’s magazine includes a world map marking every country from which musicians have visited in 50 years.

Fans rewarded this with continued loyalty. Each May, the INTERNATIONALES DIXIELAND FESTIVAL delighted more than 350,000 visitors from near and far, making it one of the world’s largest and oldest jazz festivals.

Then the pandemic rendered preparations futile shortly before the anniversary, interrupting almost 50 years of tradition. For director Joachim Schlese, cancellation came at the worst time: having turned 80 in late 2019, he had intended the 50th consecutive festival in 2020 as his career’s culmination.