Jazz: This Autumn in Austria — The Journey You Were Looking For

What we love about Austria isn’t a secret. Nor is our fondness for traveling to the rhythm of music—jazz in autumn, Christmas carols at Christmas, or festivals in summer. And the most nostalgic season of the year proves perfect for exploring Austria, with any excuse, but this time the excuse is jazz as well.

With festivals ranging from the grand open-air stages set against Alpine landscapes to the most magical corners of their historic centers, the lineup blends international stars with a human-scale, accessible vibe, far from the big mega-festivals. And not only that, as each festival invites you to a travel experience that goes far beyond music: nature, gastronomy and culture intertwine in a perfect getaway for the months of September and October.

Ben LaMar Gay, a major figure in jazz.

And autumn invites cities and towns across different Austrian regions to celebrate festivals that combine top-tier music in a unique scenic setting, from Baroque towns to Alpine valleys. Take note, Austria awaits you.

Most + Jazz (Fehring, Styria). From September 11 to 13, 2026. It is one of Austria’s largest outdoor jazz festivals. With more than 25 editions behind it, it combines music with regional gastronomy. Cider, beer, cheeses… those who go, keep coming back.

JAZZHerbst GASTEIN (Bad Gastein, Salzburg). From October 7 to 11, 2026. This new edition arrives under the motto Take 5 and is held at the historic Jazzclub Sägewerk, in the Alpine setting of the Gastein valley. A magical enclave that was on the cover of Condé Nast Traveler Spain when, before anyone else, we told the resurgence of Bad Gastein, the ski resort beloved by the great figures of cinema, art and culture for decades.

Jazz & The City Sounds (Old Town of Salzburg). From October 14 to 18, 2026. This urban festival, with more than 25 years of history, blends jazz, global groove and electronic music in various venues of Salzburg’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed old town. One of the most beautiful cities in the world, turned for a few days into the capital of the best jazz.

View photos: The most beautiful villages of Austria