Aftermovie 2026

…like a fairytale

...it was an Âventiure in the sonic forest!

Under the motto "...like a fairytale", around 200 artists from over 20 nations brought musical audacity and fresh auditory impulses back to Moers this Whitsun! Our large open-air stage stood right in the centre of the Kastellplatz, while the festival continued to unfold across the surrounding venues.

We are still deeply moved and inspired by the incredible energy, the encounters, and the unforgettable concert moments. Thank you so much for bringing the fairytale of the "Jazz Festival for Little Red Riding Hood, clapping frogs, escapism, and: Âventiure" to life with us!

You were a fantastic audience!

See you next year! 

© Dennis Hoeren



© Dennis Hoeren



© Dennis Hoeren



© Dennis Hoeren



Senyawa | © Nils Brinkmann



Moritz Simon Geist | © Dennis Hoeren



© Dennis Hoeren



Folk Music (Geheimkonzert in der enni.eventhalle) | © Dennis Hoeren



WDR Big Band feat. Nduduzo Makhathini | © Dennis Hoeren



Futur 2 | © Dennis Hoeren



Instagram

#NRWhoNRWhereNRWhat @ivp_nrw 🤝 55th @moersfestival 2026 From 21 to 25 May, three international music journalists from Japan, the UK and the USA travelled to this year’s 55th @moersfestival with the support of our individual trip funding. The five-day visit offered the guests the opportunity to discover the festival’s diverse programme, meet artists and musicians, and gain insights into the current direction and international perspectives of the moers festival. The festival team reports:
 💬 “Alongside exchanges with international artists there was a particular emphasis on innovative projects this year, such as having an Improviser in Residence, Evi Filippou, and, for example, the multi-day composition project entitled ‘Modern Man and the Holy Mountain’ by Gellért Szabó’s Ideal Orchestra, which premiered over three days at different venues. A series of face-to-face, professional discussions took place with the artistic director of the moers festival, Tim Isfort, where the festival’s current direction and future international collaborations were addressed. The guests conducted interviews and held informal discussions with local musicians – including both international stars as well as innovative protagonists and emerging artists from North Rhine-Westphalia’s vibrant jazz and improvisation scene.” ✍🏼 Following the visit, the international coverage of this year’s festival is already taking shape: AJ Dehany reported on the festival for UK Jazz News @ukjazznews and also covered the partnership between @moersfestival and Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival @hcmfuk (hcmf//). Kazue Yokoi shared her impressions of the festival in JazzTokyo @diskunion_jazztokyo . 🔗 Find all the links to the articles in our story! — — — — — — — — — Photo: moers festival 2026 | WDR Big Band feat. Nduduzo Makhathini © Dennis Hoeren #ivpnrw #internationalvisitorsprogramme #moersfestival #internationalexchange

Instagram

Zweiter Rückblick der Sommerpause: unsere Lieblingsmomente beim @moersfestival 2026. Es war unser erstes Mal dort und wir werden es nicht vergessen! Wir durften gleich bei zwei Programmen mitwirken. Zum einen haben wir mit „Märchenhafte Klangschaften“ einen Aufruf für junge Komponist*innen gestartet und denen Kompositionen in Auftrag gegeben. @evi.feelippou und ihre Band ergänzten das Programm in Impro Momenten mit Schüler*innen aus der Gegend. Zum anderen hatten wir das Glück, „Rothko Chapel“ von Morton Feldman aufführen zu dürfen. Beide Projekte haben wir in Kooperation mit dem @chromakollektiv @margot.le.moine unter der Leitung von Leh-Qiao Liao realisiert. Danke an das Moers Festival für die Einladung (und für den Mut, politisch zu sein) und danke an alle Mitwirkende ❤️ @julia_hagenmueller @maria.portela.larisch @bader_merlemarie @theresa.szorek @madelinecainsoprano Rebecca Chammas @eva_marti_mezzosoprano @filippa.leonie @milena.haunhorst @linda.kruse.mezzo @hanna_schaefer_mezzosopran @dorotheewohlgemuth @ilja.aksionov @mahnsmardy @clemens_liese @tenorfelix Maximilian Bischofberger @frederikschauhoff Ansgar Eimann @michaelbader93 @jeanbaptiste.mouret.87 #rheinstimmenensemble #vokalensemble #neuemusik #interdisziplinär #mortonfeldman

Instagram

Hach, es war märchenhaft, abenteuerlich, wundersam, wild, verrückt und aufregend, leise, still und fürchterlich laut, schrill, sanft und noch so viel mehr! Was war euer schönster Moment beim 55. moers festival 2026? 🤩

schwarz/weiß-Motiv: drei junge Volunteers sitzen auf einer Parkbank mit dem Rücken zum Betrachter, sie tragen das Festival T-Shirt 2022

Volunteers

We need your help, so that we can all celebrate together again and enjoy the festival! 

Become a volunteer

Calendar

Improviser in Residence

September

Monday, 10.11. - 19:00

Improviser-Residence (Neustr. 20, 47441 Moers)

Kleiner Martinsumzug

Paed Conca (clarinet)

Bart Maris (trumpet)

Henri Storck (Sur Les Bords de la Camera)

More information | @iir.moers on Instagram 

Festival office Imprint AGB Privacy policy Privacy settings