The 54th INTERNATIONALES DIXIELAND FESTIVAL approaches its finale: three substantial days from Friday, 15 May to Sunday, 17 May 2026. Traditional jazz shapes Dresden through outstanding fortress concerts, seven-stage Jazzmeile, Roaring Twenties Prohibitionsparty and Sunday’s protest demonstrating Dresden would not be Dresden without Dixieland.

Friday: fortress, Riverboat and seven stages

Riverboat-Sonderfahrt (19:30) offers a second chance after Wednesday’s Shuffle. Löwensaal hosts Baby Jools & The Jazzaholics (United Kingdom) and Simon Holliday & His Rhythm in Das Große Konzert (19:30). Hot Jazz in der Festung (19:30) first uses all three spaces: Bärenzwinger, Kasematten, Kanonenhof, with boogie-woogie, Dixieland and brass bands.

Full Jazzmeile also starts Friday, seven stages between station and Schlossplatz. MDR’s Hotel Königstein Open Stage features amateur/professional bands outside the official line-up, hosted by Silvio Zschage.

Saturday: seven stages and a party nobody has seen

Jazzmeile runs fully from 11:00. Prohibitionsparty at Parkhotel begins 20:00; door tickets remain.

Admission requires joining the theme: 1920s flapper/gentleman attire and personal porcelain cup. Speakeasy rules mean officially no event. Inside: jazz, swing, glamour and supposedly prohibited Roaring Twenties exuberance.

Sunday: gala, Jazzmeile and Dixieland protest

Open-Air-Gala at Junge Garde (warm-up 10:30, start 11:00) gathers leading bands/soloists in a concentrated musical overview cherished by connoisseurs. Jazzmeile continues simultaneously.

About the parade

Sunday’s parade was cancelled because SFV could not implement a late municipal security requirement. Those consequently not visiting should reconsider: a formally notified assembly occurs at the usual place/time. Under Dixieland, now more than ever, visiting bands protest through music: loud, direct and unmistakable.

Tickets

Prohibitionsparty, Riverboat-Sonderfahrt and other weekend tickets remain online and at daytime/evening box offices.