Gent Jazz Talent
26th edition of Gent Jazz Talent
Open call for (Gent) Jazz Talent
Jazz performers from Brussels and Flanders can now register for Gent Jazz Talent 2026 via the VI.BE platform!
Think you know who will shape the jazz sound of tomorrow—or maybe it could be you? In which case, this summer it could be you clutching the Gent Jazz Talent trophy, winning a spot on stage at Gent Jazz 2027; receiving financial support to develop your music, and so much more... The hunt for innovative bands is now officially open! Young musicians have until Friday, 1 May 2026 to submit an exceptional and innovative project via VI.BE. In other words, a project which the professional jury considers to be so exciting and pioneering that it could provide a new stimulus to the Belgian jazz music sound.
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And how does the process work?
The organisers of Gent Jazz and a media jury select three nominees from all submissions. This summer, on Saturday, 18 July, these three bands will have to convince a professional jury as well as a public audience of the worth of their project on a special festival day. More information about the Gent Jazz Talent festival day on Saturday, 18 July will be provided later!
The nominee who is able to win over the professional jury - comprising several independent, prominent individuals from the Belgian jazz scene - will be awarded with the prestigious title 'Gent Jazz Talent 2026’, a cash prize of €10,000 to develop and realise their dream within a year, a residency in Ha Concerts, the chance to perform at Nova Express (Kunstencentrum Nona) and a Main Stage spot at Gent Jazz in 2027. The nominee who most impresses the public will be rewarded with a cash prize of €2,000 and a residency at creative space Edmond in Brussels. The winners in both categories will be announced on Saturday, 18 July.
Both winners will receive professional advice and tailor-made guidance from VI.BE, Sabam For Culture and Playright. Furthermore, all participants will be invited by partners in the sector to a day packed full of concrete and professional advice. Brouwerij Omer Vander Ghinste will provide the appropriate refreshments.
About Gent Jazz Talent
Since 2001, Gent Jazz has been tapping into the unbridled creativity among the emerging talents in our exciting jazz world. This has been proven by some of the former winners, which include De Beren Gieren, Steiger, Robin Verheyen, BRZZVLL, Nathan Daems Quintet, Donder, Dishwasher_, Aki, Kin Gajo and current winner Ola Tunji. They have all gone on to become permanent features in the Belgian jazz landscape. At the start of their careers, thanks to winning Gent Jazz Talent, they were all given financial support and professional advice by Gent Jazz and their partners to launch and develop a unique and ambitious project.
The bar has been set incredibly high over the last few years, with a huge range of young jazz musicians submitting innumerable fantastic projects. OLA TUNJI, winner of both the Jury and the People's Choice awards in 2025, have turned their dream into reality: their first album will be released on the W.E.R.F. Records label in October 2026. The Brussels quartet, led by saxophonist Ornella Noulet, and united by a shared love for the spiritual jazz of John Coltrane, will take to the Main Stage at Gent Jazz this summer. This autumn, another JazzLab tour is in the pipeline.
Partners
Gent Jazz Talent is an initiative by Gent Jazz, in close collaboration with PlayRight, Sabam, VI.BE, Brewery Omer-Vander Ghinste, Ha Concerts, creative space and music studio Edmond, as well as the arts centre Nona.