Every November, for more than two decades, Wrocław transforms into a living laboratory of sound. The Jazztopad Festival isn’t just a string of concerts — it’s a meeting ground for artists and audiences, a space where trust and experimentation drive creation. This year’s edition continues that legacy with premieres, club gigs, and intimate gatherings across the city. Here’s how Jazztopad 2025 will unfold — and why it matters to Wrocław’s vibrant musical life.

A festival of dialogues, not just performances

Since its beginnings, Jazztopad has been guided by a simple yet profound ambition: to make a festival that acts as both a stage and a conversation. It doesn’t merely present music — it fosters encounters between internationally acclaimed improvisers and Wrocław’s open-minded audiences. Each edition is built on long-term relationships with musicians, encouraging projects that grow out of trust, curiosity, and mutual respect.

The festival, organized by the National Forum of Music (Narodowe Forum Muzyki, NFM), has become one of the most recognizable jazz events in Europe. Concerts take place in the NFM’s magnificent concert halls but also spill out into unexpected places: intimate club cafés, cozy living rooms, and even private apartments. This blending of formality and spontaneity is what defines the Jazztopad experience — a seamless flow between artistic excellence and human warmth.

What makes the festival unique is its emphasis on world premieres and commissioned works. Instead of simply presenting existing projects, Jazztopad invites artists to create something entirely new — often inspired by Wrocław itself. This year, several concerts will feature “reversed stage” arrangements, where the audience surrounds the performers or shares the same space. The goal is to dissolve boundaries, encourage listening, and make every concert an act of shared discovery.

Beyond the main stage, Jazztopad thrives through side events: improvisation sessions, educational workshops, artist meetings, and intimate concerts in living rooms. These smaller moments sustain the festival’s sense of community, allowing music to become a part of daily life rather than a distant spectacle.

The 2025 edition: lineup and highlights

The 22nd edition of Jazztopad Festival takes place from November 14 to 23, 2025, with events centered in Wrocław. The heart of the festival beats in the NFM’s ORLEN Main Hall, but many performances will unfold in smaller halls, cafés, and alternative venues scattered across the city.

Among this year’s highlights:

• Opening concert: The legendary David Murray Quartet inaugurates the festival on November 14 with a performance full of energy, poetry, and deep swing.
• Luke Stewart & Marta Sánchez Duo alongside Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble bring new textures of improvisation and rhythm on November 15.
• On November 16, Wadada Leo Smith, Jakob Bro, and Midori Takada perform with the Polish Cello Quartet, promising a meditative and transcendent evening.
• Deep Listening – Ksawery Wójciński / Xhosa Cole appear in the Red Hall on November 20, followed by a night session from KneeJerk at the Mleczarnia club.
• November 21 features a world premiere by Immanuel Wilkins & Lutosławski Quartet, plus Jeremy Rose’s Disruption!, blending jazz with chamber modernism.
• On November 22, audiences will experience The Great Reset with Joanna Duda, Sunny Kim, and Helen Svoboda, as well as Ghosted, a minimalist project by Oren Ambarchi, Johan Berthling, and Andreas Werliin.
• Finale: On November 23, the Charles Lloyd Sky Quartet featuring Jason Moran, Larry Grenadier, and Eric Harland will close the festival with a concert that bridges generations and traditions.

Jazztopad 2025 also includes a vibrant series of accompanying events: late-night improv sessions at Mleczarnia, afternoon concerts in private homes, and “Jazz for Kids” matinees that introduce young audiences to the world of improvisation. Artist talks, open rehearsals, and film screenings add depth to the festival, encouraging reflection and conversation beyond the stage.

The lineup is as bold as it is balanced: global legends meet emerging artists who redefine the boundaries of jazz and improvised music. From David Murray’s spiritual depth to Marta Sánchez’s rhythmic sensitivity, from Wadada Leo Smith’s visionary trumpet to Midori Takada’s percussive meditations — every concert promises a distinct universe of sound, united by a shared openness to creative risk.

What makes Jazztopad matter — to Wrocław and beyond

A space for artistic risk

While many jazz festivals celebrate tradition, Jazztopad 2025 embraces the unknown. Its structure encourages experimentation: commissioned works, unconventional stage designs, and unexpected collaborations create room for genuine artistic discovery. Each concert is less a presentation and more a process — an event unfolding in real time, shaped by improvisation and trust.

A bridge between local and global

Jazztopad’s roots are in Wrocław, but its reach is international. The festival brings together artists from Europe, the United States, Asia, and Africa, emphasizing dialogue across traditions and cultures. At the same time, it proudly represents Wrocław’s creative energy to the world, with its satellite edition held each summer in New York City.

A festival of depth, not spectacle

The heart of Jazztopad 2025 lies not in star power, but in substance. It’s a festival that prizes long-term collaboration over short-term applause. Many projects are developed over years, with returning artists forming genuine bonds with the city and its audience. The result is an atmosphere of authenticity and intimacy — rare qualities in the modern festival landscape.

A living part of Wrocław’s culture

Jazztopad’s success is inseparable from the city that hosts it. By extending beyond formal concert halls and into local cafés, clubs, and apartments, it reflects Wrocław’s own character — inclusive, curious, and community-oriented. The festival not only draws international visitors but also strengthens local networks of musicians, educators, and listeners.

A platform for education and exchange

Workshops, school collaborations, and informal meetings with artists ensure that Jazztopad 2025 remains open to everyone. Its programming invites reflection, dialogue, and shared learning — embodying the belief that improvisation is not only a musical technique, but also a philosophy of openness and listening.

More than music

Over its twenty-two editions, Jazztopad has grown into one of Europe’s most inspiring festivals of improvised music — yet it has never lost its soul. It remains a space where music is a conversation, where trust replaces hierarchy, and where art is not consumed but experienced.

For Wrocław, Jazztopad 2025 is a reminder of what cultural life can achieve when it values risk, honesty, and dialogue. For the global jazz scene, it’s proof that Europe’s most vital improvisation often emerges not from capitals, but from places where artists and audiences truly meet.