jaZZanti Concert Series – Autumn Programme 2026

The autumn jaZZanti concert series presents 14 concerts featuring inspiring, high-quality jazz and improvised music.

In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland aboard the ship Andania on June 4, 1926. Helsinki Jazz’s autumn programme reflects the Jazz Finland 100 anniversary year by presenting a diverse cross-section of top-level Finnish jazz.

This year also marks 30 years since Charles Gil founded the Vapaat Äänet agency; the autumn season includes two concerts featuring French artists.

The highlight of the season is a jubilee concert by two legends of Finnish jazz at the Savoy Theatre on 29 October 2026. Performers include Reiska Laine’s sextet and the Sibelius Academy Big Band led by Bianca Rantala, featuring Eero Koivistoinen as soloist.

jaZZanti concerts are held at the cozy Villa Hakasalmi, Mannerheimintie 13B.

Ticket prices at Villa Hakasalmi: regular 22 €, pensioners, unemployed and members of Helsinki Jazz Association 17 €, students 14 €, buddy ticket for two 34 €. Advance tickets are available on the Helsinki Jazz website at the same price as at the door.

More detailed artist presentations will be presented here later on.

03.08.26 Kalle Kalima – Antti Lötjönen duo
Kalle Kalima: guitar; Antti Lötjönen: double bass.

10.08.26 Roberto Negro (FR) – Pärt & Songs
Roberto Negro: piano. Featuring Arvo Pärt’s early compositions from 1950. In collaboration with Vapaat Äänet.

17.08.26 Sanni Orasmaa solo
Sanni Orasmaa: vocals and piano.

31.08.26 Selma Savolainen – Toomas Keski-Säntti duo
Selma Savolainen: vocals; Toomas Keski-Säntti: piano.

26.10.26 Kadi Vija solo
Kadi Vija: vocals and keyboards. A solo performance of the Jazz Emma Award-winning recording Tiny Hands Gathering Wonder, The World Becomes Magic.

29.10.26 Eero Koivistoinen & Reiska Laine 80th Anniversary Concert
Two Finnish jazz legends in a jubilee concert at the Savoy Theatre. First half features Reiska Laine’s sextet — Reiska Laine: drums; Eero Koivistoinen: saxophones; Jari Perkiömäki: saxophones; Mikko “Gunu” Karjalainen: trumpet; Olli Ahvenlahti: piano; Filemon von Numers: double bass. In the second half, the Sibelius Academy Big Band, directed by Bianca Rantala and joined by Eero Koivistoinen, performs Koivistoinen’s compositions from different decades as well as his arrangement of John Coltrane’s classic Equinox. In collaboration with the Savoy Theatre. Tickets 20–45 € via the Savoy Theatre website.

09.11.26 Pauli Lyytinen – Markku Ounaskari duo
Pauli Lyytinen: saxophones; Markku Ounaskari: drums and percussion.

16.11.26 Harri Sjöström Quintet
Harri Sjöström: saxophones; Heikki Nikula: bass clarinet; Veli Kujala: accordion; Libero Mureddu: piano; Jukka Kääriäinen: guitar.

23.11.26 Lotus Flowers (FR-DE)
Sakina Abdou (FR): tenor saxophone; Angelika Niescier (DE): alto saxophone; Bruno Angelini (FR): piano and compositions. In collaboration with Vapaat Äänet.

30.11.26 Juhani Aaltonen – Heikki Sarmanto duo & Juhani Aaltonen – Raoul Björkenheim duo
Juhani Aaltonen: flute; Heikki Sarmanto: piano; Raoul Björkenheim: guitar.

02.12.26 Jusu Berghäll: SOLO Coltrane album release concert
Joakim (Jusu) Berghäll: saxophones. New interpretations of compositions by Alice and John Coltrane.

07.12.12 Mikko Antila – Ilmari Rönkä duo: Magic Meadow album release concert
Ilmari Rönkä: saxophones and flute; Mikko Antila: vibraphone.

08.12.26 Children’s concert
Mikko Antila: vibraphone and percussion; Josh Levine: double bass, vocals and percussion; Sami Kontola: drums and percussion. Oodi Central Library, Maija Hall. Free admission.

14.12.12 Ljungkvist (SE) – Backström – Leppänen trio
Fredrik Ljungkvist (SE): clarinets; Jonathan Backström: double bass; Joonas Leppänen: drums.

Programme subject to change; updates are available here.