Lana Meets Jazz
The international jazz festival of Lana, in South Tyrol
About Lana Meets Jazz
A jazz festival spread across the heart of South Tyrol
Lana Meets Jazz is the international jazz festival of Lana, located in the province of Bolzano, in the South Tyrolean Burgraviato just a few kilometers from Merano. Every year in early June, the festival turns the entire town into an open-air stage: concerts are held in squares, cafés, the library, churches, and the historic manors (Ansitz) that dot the landscape, following the philosophy of bringing music directly to where people live. The event is a highlight of the rich cultural calendar that enlivens Lana and its surroundings throughout the spring and summer.
Organizers and origins
The festival is conceived and curated by the Sweet Alps cultural association, under the artistic direction of saxophonist and singer Helga Plankensteiner and pianist Michael Lösch, two leading figures in the South Tyrolean jazz scene. The event is produced in close collaboration with the Municipality of Lana, the Lana Tourist Board, the local library, and the town's music school, creating a project that weaves together great music, regional promotion, and community engagement.
The program
The strength of Lana Meets Jazz lies in its diversity: each edition fosters a dialogue between international stars, local heroes of the South Tyrolean scene, and young students from music schools. The program ranges from classic swing to contemporary jazz, from radical improvisation to fusions with world music, African and Caribbean rhythms, electronic music, and singer-songwriter styles.
- Free concerts: almost all events are free to attend.
- Suggestive venues: from Rathausplatz (Town Hall Square) to the Ansitz Schaller and Goldegg, from the Church of Santa Croce to the Vigilius Mountain Resort on Monte San Vigilio, accessible by cable car.
- Focus on youth: events like "Jazz for Kids" introduce elementary school children to the language of jazz.
The region
Lana is one of the largest fruit-growing centers in the Alps, nestled among apple orchards, chestnut groves, and vineyards at the foot of Monte San Vigilio. Experiencing Lana Meets Jazz means combining high-level musical performances with the discovery of a unique alpine landscape and a bilingual Italian-German border culture. Today, the festival stands as one of the most appreciated jazz events in the summer calendar of South Tyrol and the entire Trentino-Alto Adige region.
Lana Meets Jazz — edition 2026
Lana Meets Jazz 2026 — 14th edition
The fourteenth edition of Lana Meets Jazz was held from June 5 to 10, 2026, under the artistic direction of Helga Plankensteiner and Michael Lösch. The festival opened with the inauguration of the photo exhibition "Round About Miles" by Roberto Cifarelli at the Kunstraum Gries, dedicated to the centenary of Miles Davis's birth, accompanied by the percussion street band Sissamba.
Among the protagonists of the edition: Matthias Schriefl & Shreefpunk Plus Strings (Germany) at the library, the Jim Black Trio (USA/Denmark/Switzerland) at the Ansitz Schaller, the Jemm Music Project at the Rathausplatz, Nicole Johänntgen with "Labyrinth II" at the Vigilius Mountain Resort on Monte San Vigilio, the Nico Gori Sextet "Around the Clarinet" at the Ansitz Goldegg, the Lorenzo Frizzera Trio at Café Harmonie, and the French accordionist Vincent Peirani in a solo concert at the Church of Santa Croce.
There were also events dedicated to children with "Jazz for Kids" and to young music school students with the Little Groovers, as well as the "Jazz & Wine" aperitif at the Burgerhof. All concerts were free to attend.
Programme Lana Meets Jazz 2026
2026 Program
- June 5 — 6:00 PM Kunstraum Gries: inauguration of "Round About Miles" exhibition with Sissamba; 8:00 PM Library: Matthias Schriefl & Shreefpunk Plus Strings (Germany)
- June 6 — 11:00 AM Burgerhof "Jazz & Wine": Barionda Reloaded; 6:00 PM Ansitz Schaller: Jim Black Trio (USA/DK/CH); 8:00 PM Rathausplatz: Jemm Music Project
- June 7 — 5:00 PM Vigilius Mountain Resort (Monte San Vigilio): Nicole Johänntgen "Labyrinth II" (Switzerland)
- June 8 — 8:00 PM Ansitz Goldegg: Nico Gori Sextet "Around the Clarinet" (Italy), with the Little Groovers
- June 9 — 11:00 AM S. Pietro Elementary School: "Jazz for Kids"; 8:00 PM Café Harmonie: Lorenzo Frizzera Trio
- June 10 — 8:00 PM Church of Santa Croce: Vincent Peirani, accordion solo (France)
Highlights Lana Meets Jazz 2026
Prices Lana Meets Jazz 2026
Practical information — Lana Meets Jazz
Getting there
Lana is located just a few kilometers from Merano, in the province of Bolzano. By car: take the Bolzano Sud exit from the A22 Brenner motorway, then follow the MeBo expressway towards Merano. By train: Lana-Postal station on the Bolzano-Merano line, or Merano station, which is connected by local buses.
Admission and bookings
Most concerts are free of charge. For certain events (such as the concert on Monte San Vigilio, which requires a cable car ticket) or events with limited seating, booking is recommended through the Lana Tourist Board at +39 0473 561770.
Information
Detailed program and updates are available at sweetalps.com and at the Lana tourist office.
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Where does it take place — Lana Meets Jazz
Rathausplatz / vari luoghi di Lana