Press Releases

This year, the JazzAscona Sister Cities Award remains within the festival’s own ranks. Since the establishment of the official sister city relationship between New Orleans and Ascona in 2022, the award has honored individuals who have distinguished themselves in strengthening the artistic, cultural, and human ties between the two cities. This year’s award was presented to JazzAscona President Guido Casparis, who, as is well known, will be stepping down after 14 years at the helm of the festival at the end of this edition.

The Swiss Jazz Award 2026, a distinction dedicated to outstanding personalities of Swiss Jazz, will this year be awarded to pianist and composer Manon Mullener. The award ceremony will take place on July 2, as a prelude to the artist’s concert at the JazzAscona festival.

At the end of June, Ascona, on the shores of Lake Maggiore, ceases to be merely one of Switzerland’s most charming villages and, for ten days, becomes a little European New Orleans. The streets fill with music, brass instruments lead parades, venues transform into stages, and jazz becomes a shared language, capable of uniting musicians and audiences of all ages.

Here is the JazzAscona 2026 poster. The graphic concept, designed by the Responsiva studio, conveys energy, music and vitality.

A surprising dialogue between different musical worlds. JazzAscona and the new classicAscona join forces for a special evening at the Teatro del Gatto (Ascona).

For the fourth year in a row, Soundtrack makes its return—a magical journey aboard the historic Centovalli train, in partnership with the Vigezzina-Centovalli Railway. Save the date: Saturday, June 27, 2026.