The Big Shake draws 29,000 visits to Saalfelden jazz festival

The Saalfelden Jazz Festival ended its 46th edition with about 29,000 concert visits, ORF reported. Attendance rose slightly from the previous year, while ticket sales nearly matched the 2025 record, according to organisers.

The festival’s main focus was the anniversary project The Big Shake, which turned the town into a stage. Almost all events were sold out, with only a few remaining tickets available.

Over four days, the programme featured contemporary jazz, improvised music and cross-genre projects. Performances took place on festival stages, in clubs, at city events and outdoors. Organisers also reported an increase in younger visitors.

The emotional highlight brought about 70 musicians from the civic band and the railway city band together with jazz compositions and members of Lukas Kranzelbinder’s formation Shake Stew.

Kranzelbinder planned The Big Shake as a birthday celebration, including a large parade through the town centre. He founded Shake Stew for the Saalfelden Jazz Festival 10 years ago, launching what ORF described as a successful international career.

The festival was organised with a budget of about 880,000 euros. Saalfelden Leogang Tourism said it was also economically important to the region, contributing to tourism revenue and strengthening the area as a cultural and event destination.