EJBF26 International Programme Partner Announced

We are proud to present SPARK: Jazz from the Netherlands, our flagship international showcase celebrating the creativity, innovation and global influence of Dutch jazz.

Running throughout the festival in July, SPARK highlights both emerging and internationally acclaimed artists from the Netherlands, introducing Scottish audiences to some of the most exciting voices shaping Europe’s contemporary jazz landscape.

At its core, SPARK aims to strengthen artistic connections between Scotland and the Netherlands. The programme provides meaningful international performance opportunities for musicians while encouraging collaboration between artists, promoters and cultural organisations in both countries.

Long recognised for producing musicians of remarkable creative independence, the Netherlands has built one of Europe’s most influential jazz ecosystems. Supported by world-class conservatoires, innovative venues and a culture that values experimentation as much as tradition, Dutch jazz continues to shape the evolving language of improvised music.

SPARK: Jazz from the Netherlands brings this dynamic scene directly to Edinburgh, contributing to the festival’s wider ambition to serve as a platform for international discovery and positioning the city as a meeting point for artists and audiences from across the world.

SPARK: Jazz from the Netherlands is funded by the Performing Arts Fund NL and the Scottish Government’s EXPO Fund and delivered in partnership with inJazz / Buma Cultuur and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the United Kingdom.

Tickets on sale now for all seven events in the programme - explore the programme and book now.