First Confirmations: Austrian Vision and International Avant-Garde — Yvonne Moriel, Chicago Underground Duo & Yeah NO
Yvonne Moriel Receives Composition Commission
The 46th Jazzfestival Saalfelden will open with a strong statement in support of Austria’s contemporary jazz scene. Saxophonist Yvonne Moriel — already well known to audiences in Saalfelden Leogang — has been awarded this year’s composition commission and will open the Mainstage. Moriel is widely regarded as one of the most distinctive Austrian musicians of her generation. Following studies in Linz, Vienna and Zurich, she developed a unique musical language that bridges jazz, improvisation and electronic music. Whether performing with large ensembles such as Shake Stew and the Swiss Jazz Orchestra, in intimate formations or across interdisciplinary projects, Moriel’s work combines energy, fragility and determination. Her own releases fuse jazz with electronic textures, dub and hip-hop — creating music that pulses, breathes and continuously evolves. Her opening performance underlines the festival’s commitment to presenting bold artistic visions from Austrian artists on an international stage.
International Highlights: Chicago Underground Duo & Yeah NO
Jazzfestival Saalfelden will welcome the Chicago Underground Duo, one of the most influential formations in the American avant-garde scene. Rob Mazurek and Chad Taylor will present their latest album ‘Hyperglyph’, selected by The New York Times as one of the Top 10 Best Jazz Albums of 2025. Marking their return after an eleven-year hiatus, the album combines freely improvised trumpet–drum duets with electroacoustic grooves and meditative soundscapes. Rooted in folk traditions while remaining forward-looking, ‘Hyperglyph’ reflects the boundary-pushing aesthetic of the International Anthem label and the duo’s enduring creative vision.
The legendary New York jazz and new-music formation Yeah NO will also return to the stage. Featuring Chris Speed (The Bad Plus), Jim Black, Skúli Sverrisson and Cuong Vu, the group has been a defining force in the New York scene since the 1990s. By merging jazz with influences from rock, Eastern European folk traditions and minimal music, the quartet has developed a highly distinctive sonic identity. Their performance in Saalfelden offers a rare opportunity to experience this influential project live in its original line-up.
The 2026 Key Visual: A Playful Tribute to Saalfelden Leogang
The 2026 visual concept places the festival’s host region centre stage. Recognisable buildings and characteristic landscapes merge into a playful jazz-inspired scene. Influenced by a contemporary doodle aesthetic, the illustration combines a strong local connection with artistic openness.
The design was created by Marie Peiskammer, a student in the MultiMediaArt programme at Salzburg University of Applied Sciences. It emerged as the winning project of a design competition held within the Communication Design course led by Berlin-based graphic designer Martin Gnadt. Peiskammer’s concept impressed the jury with its playful lightness and will shape the festival’s visual appearance in 2026.
Advance Ticket Sales Start Today
With the official launch of advance ticket sales, preparations for the 2026 festival summer are now in fully swing. Tickets for ticketed concerts on the Mainstage and at the Otto-Gruber-Halle, as well as for Short Cuts performances and WE HIKE JAZZ hikes, are now available online: https://tickets.jazzsaalfelden.com/
The JAZZ SAALFELDEN App - Your Digital Festival Guide: In the “JAZZ SAALFELDEN” app you’ll find all essential information about the musical weekend in Saalfelden Leogang. Activate push notifications to stay fully up to date and be the first to receive programme changes or important updates — download now for free!
