The Jazz Institute Darmstadt is a research and documentation centre for jazz and improvised music.

Since 1990, the cultural institute of the science city of Darmstadt has housed Europe's largest public jazz archive. It is located in a baroque hunting lodge, the Bessunger Kavaliershaus (built: 1709-1725).

Its historic vaulted cellar is a regular venue for intimate jazz concerts. In addition, the Jazz Institute organises specialist conferences, an annual ensemble workshop for musicians and presents changing exhibitions on the subject.

Visiting hours: Tuesday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Events 2026:

1 January to 31 May 2026

Voice of Change – Jazz and Democracy

In times of increasing social polarisation, how do we deal with divergent, conflicting attitudes and opinions? And how does jazz and improvisational music relate to this? What contribution does this music make in practice and theory to the discourse on the politicisation of art and culture? Both historically and currently. The Jazzinstitut Darmstadt's ‘Voices of Change’ series of events will explore these questions between January and May 2026 in a series of exhibitions, lectures, lecture performances, musician talks and concerts.

9 January to 31 May 2026:

Exhibition ‘Voice of Change’ – Political Forms of Expression in Jazz in the gallery of the Jazz Institute Darmstadt

13 or 20 March:

Lecture by Stephan Braese: ‘Jazz in the Context of German Politics from 1945 to the Present’

14 to 16 April 2026: Lecture performance and ensemble workshop with Peter Evans in collaboration with Darmstadt schools

29 May 2026:

Concert with Fallen Crooner and musician talk with Robert Lucaciu