On 26 February, the annual Maastricht Jazz Awards took place at the Jazz Department of Conservatorium Maastricht. It was an evening to remember: a full house, original compositions, bold improvisations and an atmosphere that will resonate for a long time to come.
Organised by Jazz Maastricht and Conservatorium Maastricht, the 2026 edition celebrated the originality and impact of the Conservatorium’s output over the past five years, highlighting its fresh voices within the professional jazz field. Students, alumni and young professionals were invited to present their work and artistic vision on stage.
Grand Prize for Maastricht Jazz Collective
The Grand Prize was awarded to Maastricht Jazz Collective, led by David Luca. The ensemble took the audience on an intense musical dialogue in which Balkan ethno jazz blended seamlessly with Western jazz traditions. Layered, energetic and deeply expressive, their performance made them more than deserving winners of the evening’s highest honour.
As Grand Prize winners, they receive a €1,000 cash prize, a personalised coaching programme, automatic submission to the B-Jazz International Contest, and opportunities for festival performances, valuable steps towards taking their musical ambitions to the next level.
Audience Award for Woodpecker’s Quintet
The audience also made its voice heard. The Audience Award went to Woodpecker’s Quintet, led by Madara Dzene. With their warm, sincere sound and palpable joy in playing, they truly touched the room. Their heartfelt performance earned them the Public Prize of the night. In addition to the recognition of the audience, they were awarded a €500 cash prize.
A Celebration of Young Talent
The Maastricht Jazz Awards 2026 once again demonstrated the strength, diversity and creativity of the next generation of jazz artists emerging from Conservatorium Maastricht.
We warmly congratulate both winners and thank all performers, jury members and guests who made this special evening possible.
