live-and-festivals
Tampere Jazz Happening Opens Its 45th Edition as Renovated Tullikamari Reopens
The 45th Tampere Jazz Happening runs Oct. 29 to Nov. 1 and is the first event in Tampere's Tullikamari Cultural Centre after a renovation of almost two years. New artistic director Martyna van Nieuwland has made the Netherlands the theme country.
Finland's Tampere Jazz Happening opens its 45th edition on Oct. 29, and with it one of the city's main cultural venues returns to use. The City of Tampere announced on Oct. 27 that the Tullikamari Cultural Centre will reopen to the public on Oct. 29 after an almost two-year break for an extensive renovation, and that the festival will be the first event held there.
According to the city, the four-day festival, running through Nov. 1, brings the event "back to its roots" at Tullikamari's Pakkahuone hall and Klubi, a building it says has played a significant role in the festival's history for decades. The renovation was aimed at improving the functionality, safety and accessibility of the facilities. The reopened venue is operated by Tampereen Kulttuurikamari Oy.
"It is particularly rewarding that the very first event in the programme will be an internationally recognised festival," Janne Laurila, programme manager at Tampereen Kulttuurikamari Oy, said in the city's announcement.
This year's program is the first curated by the festival's new artistic director, Martyna van Nieuwland, and the Netherlands is the theme country. The festival's published schedule opens on Thursday with an artist talk by French bassist Claude Tchamitchian and a free "Netherjazz" evening at Klubi featuring Neon River, Raw Fish and AWICHAS.
Friday's concert at Pakkahuone begins with the presentation of the Yrjö Award, followed by Cosmic Ear from Sweden, Polish trumpeter Tomasz Dąbrowski & The Individual Beings with Finnish singer Johanna Elina Sulkunen, and MESTIZX. A parallel program at the Telakka venue features Kiri Ra!, Dantchev: Domain and RinneRadio.
Saturday has two Pakkahuone concerts. The afternoon program lists Aruán Ortiz's "I've Known Rivers Trio," Mikko Innanen's Celebration Ensemble with a set titled "Jazz Finland 100 Now!" and the Colin Vallon Trio from Switzerland. The evening brings the Benjamin Herman Trio featuring Japanese saxophonist Tomoaki Baba, the French group Kolinga, and Manu Delago & Max ZT. At Telakka, guitarist Raoul Björkenheim plays in a duo with drummer Paal Nilssen-Love, alongside Nebbia // Kääriäinen and Elifantree.
The closing Sunday concert at Pakkahuone features Beiggja, Claude Tchamitchian's Poetic Power and vibraphonist Joel Ross's Gospel Music, followed by a free set by ¡Ya Voy! at Klubi. The program also includes two short free concerts for babies and parents, "Saxophone x Baby Babble," at the Laikku culture house. Tickets for the main Pakkahuone concerts are listed at 65 euros (50 euros reduced), with the Saturday afternoon program at 55/45 euros and Telakka evenings at 35/30 euros.
After the festival, the city says Tullikamari will host a broad program of concerts, club nights, dances and community events, with dozens of events already announced for the rest of 2026 and early 2027.