About fill in

In recent years, a vibrant jazz scene has developed in the SaarLorLux region. More and more young people are discovering this music for themselves. This gave jazz drummer and HfM-SAAR professor Oliver Strauch the idea, during the coronavirus pandemic, to launch a festival for the SaarLorLux region that showcases contemporary jazz by legends, global stars and up-and-coming talents, thereby bringing international jazz to the region.

fill in is 100 percent jazz: the festival presents exclusively jazz music. An important focus is on the neighboring country of France and musicians from the Greater Region also get attention on the “big stage”.

The festival attracted more than 12,000 visitors in 2024, almost tripling its attendance figures. In 2025, despite fewer concerts, around 12,500 people once again visited fill in. Sold-out concerts and an enthusiastic audience carried the festival through 2025.

New this year was the start of the festival at the end of April. In cooperation with the GIU, the festival started in AVENUE in the neighbourhood at the Eurobahnhof. Conceived as a street festival, AVENUE was intended to be a low-threshold offer for the region and combine the best jazz free of charge with a delicious street food offer and market stalls for adults and a children’s programme. The format was enthusiastically received and will be continued next year. It will be held again on two days in spring.

As in 2023 and 2024, the actual festival also kicked off on the eve of St. Johanner Markt in 2025. Several free concerts by young jazz musicians and bands from the HfM SAAR in bars, pubs, and restaurants transformed the market into the city’s musical living room. The main festival took place from Thursday, June 26 to Saturday, June 28, 2025, at the E-Werk, with two concerts each evening.

The team creates a cozy festival atmosphere around the E-Werk. The festival not only takes place inside the former industrial cathedral, but also incorporates the surrounding park-like grounds. In 2026, the festival will also organize a two-day open-air event at Lake Bostal and a concert evening at the St. Ingbert town hall, where an international star will perform.

Our mission statement

The mission statement is the playlist of our work—among ourselves, with the artists, our partners, and the audience.

fill in is jazz in all its forms – from legends to newcomers. We showcase international stars and up-and-coming talent. Artistic quality, a joy of performance and infectious energy are at the heart of what we do. We curate our programme without imposing any particular stylistic agenda, but with the highest standards – accessible, diverse and fresh!

fill in glaubt an die Harmonie des Austauschs, an offene Ohren, klare Worte und die Melodie zwischen den Zeilen. Unsere Sprache ist einladend, inspirierend und weckt Neugierde auf das Festival-Erlebnis. Zuverlässigkeit und Transparenz sind der Rhythmus für Vertrauen und Verbindung.

fill in brings international jazz and up-and-coming talent to the Greater Region. As a key cultural player, the festival builds a glocal network and aims to establish itself amongst Europe’s jazz festivals with its own unique formats.

fill in aims to ensure continuity and strengthens the cultural sector through regional value creation and fair working conditions. A strong cultural profile, growing reach and a loyal audience ensure long-term impact.
The festival enhances the Saarland’s appeal as a place to live and do business. We are committed to the participating companies in terms of our financial viability. This partnership forms the core of a joint strategy that contributes to the “Saarland” brand.

fill in takes a participatory approach through close collaboration with educational institutions, associations and local stakeholders. We are committed to a respectful, people-centred way of working. As part of the fill in Family, we promote cultural participation and interaction. Together, we are building a strong community for jazz.

Wir engagieren uns professionell und voller Leidenschaft für das, was wir tun. Mit klaren Zielen, Verantwortung und effizienter Struktur schaffen wir reibungslose Abläufe und unvergessliche Erlebnisse. Unsere Motivation: Höchste Zufriedenheit beim Publikum, Künstler:innen, Partnern und allen, die mit uns arbeiten.