26th Jazzinty Festival
From 17 to 22 August 2026, Novo mesto will once again host the 26th International Jazzinty Workshop and Festival, one of Slovenia’s leading international jazz events. Combining outstanding concerts, an international jazz workshop and nightly jam sessions, the six-day programme attracts established musicians, emerging artists and jazz enthusiasts from around the world.
For 26 years, Jazzinty has provided a vibrant space for creativity, learning and musical collaboration. Over the past quarter of a century, it has welcomed more than 1,200 workshop participants and presented over 250 concerts by Slovenian and international artists. An important part of its mission is also Jazzon, Slovenia’s only composition award dedicated to young jazz composers under the age of 30.
International Workshop
This year’s workshop brings together eight internationally acclaimed tutors:
- Tawanda – vocals
- Jonathan Kreisberg – guitar
- Marko Črnčec – piano
- Colin Stranahan – drums
- Joshua Ginsburg – double bass
- Luigi Grasso – saxophone
- Boris Majcen – trumpet
- Blaž Pahor – Introduction to Jazz
Once again, the workshop brings together distinguished musicians from Europe, the United States and Slovenia for an intensive week of performance, education and international collaboration.
Festival Programme
The festival features 11 concerts over six evenings, taking place at the square in front of the Janez Trdina Cultural Centre and in the Park of the Growing Book. Each evening concludes with a jam session at the LokalPatriot café.
Monday, 17 August – Janez Trdina Cultural Centre Square
20:00 – Academy of Music, University of Ljubljana: Marko Momčilović Quartet
21:00 – Rok Zalokar Zhlehtet: Pieces for Collective Change
22:30 – Jam Session at LokalPatriot
Tuesday, 18 August – Janez Trdina Cultural Centre Square
20:00 – Concert by students of the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz
21:00 – Tawanda & Marko Črnčec Trio
22:30 – Jam Session at LokalPatriot
Wednesday, 19 August – Janez Trdina Cultural Centre Square
20:00 – Jazzon: Concert by the winner of the Jazzon 2026 Award for Best Slovenian Jazz Composition
21:00 – Jazzinty Workshop Tutors’ Concert
22:30 – Jam Session at LokalPatriot
Thursday, 20 August – Park of the Growing Book
20:00 – Eva Moreno Trio
21:00 – Zoran Schmitz Trio
22:30 – Jam Session at LokalPatriot
Friday, 21 August – Park of the Growing Book
20:00 – Blaž Švagan: Absolute Candor
21:00 – Jonathan Kreisberg Trio
22:30 – Jam Session at LokalPatriot
Saturday, 22 August – Janez Trdina Cultural Centre Square
20:00 – Final Concert of the Workshop Participants
22:30 – Jam Session at LokalPatriot
The festival is organised by Zavod Novo mesto. It is co-produced by LokalPatriot and the Marjan Kozina Music School Novo mesto, in collaboration with the Ljubljana Conservatory of Music and Ballet, the Academy of Music, University of Ljubljana, and the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz. The main media partner is the First Programme of Radio Slovenia, while the festival is financially supported by the Municipality of Novo mesto and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia.
