The festival presents itself

JazzAscona presents the most important festival in Switzerland dedicated to New Orleans music. Join us every summer in beautiful Ascona!

Our festival is renowned internationally among the major events dedicated to Jazz music focusing mainly on contemporary artists and bands visiting from New Orleans, Ascona’s sister city.

Yearly, JazzAscona attracts a large audience of live music enthusiasts, who appreciate the stylistical richness of its program, the relaxed and one-of-a-kind open-air festival ambience, as well as the Lago Maggiore region for a wonderful summer holiday destination.

For a full ten days of music around the clock, JazzAscona proposes around 20 concerts a day with free entry. From New Orleans Jazz to Trad Jazz, from Groove & Funk to Gospel music, from Dixieland to Big Bands, the festival includes all genres related to the great tradition of Jazz and Afroamerican music.

The New Orleans Experience – Authentic music and food from Louisiana, USA

Our festival tradition aims since its very first editions to celebrate New Orleans culture by showcasing its most representative artists alongside the savory Louisiana cuisine.

More than 200 free concerts

Since 2022, all concerts of the Festival are free (drinks may be compulsory in our Music Hours program). Ascona is a relatively small town and all venues are within short walking distances.

Our awards

In addition to hosting the yearly Swiss Jazz Award ceremony, the festival presents the Ascona Jazz Award, an award for outstanding musicians and personalities visiting from Ascona’s sister city New Orleans. Also, the audience can vote for their favorite band with the AET My Choice Audience Award to have them back again next year.

Sponsor & Partnerships

Our most heartfelt thanks go to all the sponsors and many partners who year after year so preciously support JazzAscona!