Ö1 Jazz Scholarship Final

Ö1 Jazzstipendium 2026 Final at Funkhaus Vienna: Six Outstanding Finalists in the Spotlight

The final round of the Ö1 Jazzstipendium 2026 took place at Funkhaus Vienna, where six exceptional finalists performed live before the distinguished jury. As one of Austria’s leading opportunities for emerging artists, the scholarship connects young jazz talents, higher music education, and the vibrant world of contemporary jazz in Vienna. The current JAM announcement presents the Ö1 Jazzstipendium as a full scholarship for a two-year Bachelor’s or Master’s programme at JAM MUSIC LAB Private University.

The finalists of the 2026 edition were Tillmann Risse, Carla Kaltenböck, Adrian Varady, Michael Horvath, Marion Wolf, and Serafin Javorka. Their live performances reflected remarkable artistic range, individuality, improvisational strength, and a strong sense of musical communication — qualities that continue to shape the future of the Austrian jazz scene.

The jury included Wolfgang Muthspiel, Marcus Ratka, Jeff Levenson, Andreas Felber, Elke Tschaikner, Anke Fischer, and Dietmar Petschl. Their participation underlined the artistic level and professional relevance of this renowned jazz scholarship, which has become an important platform for jazz studies in Austria, music education in Vienna, and the support of the next generation of professional musicians.

The Ö1 Jazzstipendium stands for originality, excellence, and artistic identity. For young instrumentalists and vocalists, it offers an outstanding opportunity to develop their profile in an international university for jazz and popular music, to connect with leading voices from the music world, and to take a decisive step toward a future in jazz performance, music production, and professional music studies. The final live round took place on 8 April 2026.

Stay tuned: the winner of the Ö1 Jazzstipendium 2026 will be announced on 30 April 2026, on International Jazz Day / Ö1 Jazz Day, during the evening Ö1 concert broadcast live on radio. Follow the announcement and celebrate the next major voice in Austrian jazz with JAM MUSIC LAB Private University and Ö1.