Proponent Committee

of the Austrian Jazz Prize 2026 (in alphabetical order):

• Andreas Felber – Ö1 Jazz Editor
• Christoph Huber – Porgy & Bess
• Harald Huber – Austrian Music Council (ÖMR)
• Katrin Pröll – IG World Music
• Sabine Reiter – mica / music austria
• Günther Wildner – Austrian Music Council (ÖMR)

The members of the Proponent Committee identify with the objectives of the Austrian Jazz Prize, wish to promote this initiative, and provide their expertise.

In its current composition, it also represents institutions within the Austrian music scene: Austrian Music Council (Harald Huber, Günther Wildner), mica – music austria (Sabine Reiter), Ö1 Jazz Editorial Team (Andreas Felber), IG World Music (Katrin Pröll), and Jazz & Music Club Porgy & Bess (Christoph Huber). From 2024 to 2026, the Austrian Music Council was and is the project organizer.

Jury

The 2026 jury consists of four experienced experts from Austria and abroad, selected by the organizing committee, and the three winners of the "Live Act," "Album," and "Newcomer" categories from 2025. The ranking of the nominees (1st place receives 10 points, 2nd place 9 points, etc. - 10th place 1 point), determined by the Academy (approximately 150 to 200 people), forms the basis of the jury's discussions and decisions and accounts for 50% of the final decision. The jury members evaluate and discuss the Academy's results and arrive at a collective jury ranking for each category (individual points divided by 7), which is then added to the Academy's result. This gives the Academy greater weight than in the previous year, but the jury can intervene—with justification—to make adjustments.