Stockholm Women’s International Jazz Festival 2025 Cancelled

Stockholm, Sweden – January 16, 2025 – It is with deep regret and frustration that we announce the cancellation of the 2025 edition of the Stockholm Women’s International Jazz Festival. After six successful years of celebrating female artistry and elevating underrepresented voices in jazz, we are forced to halt this year’s event due to a lack of funding— a direct consequence of cultural policies that have consistently weakened small and independent organizers.

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This decision is not just a setback for Semente but a symptom of a broader issue. In recent years, Sweden’s cultural landscape has suffered from policies that prioritize large institutions at the expense of smaller, community-driven initiatives. These policies have created increasingly challenging conditions for organizations like ours, making it nearly impossible to sustain events that foster innovation and inclusion.

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We deeply apologize to our loyal audience, who have supported this unique festival, to the female artists who have lost an important stage to showcase their talent and to all the partners and collaborators who have contributed to the event’s success. This festival has been a rare platform for women in jazz, and its absence is a loss not only for the artists but for the cultural diversity and vitality of Sweden as a whole.

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This year marks Semente’s 10th anniversary, a milestone we had hoped to celebrate by continuing the impactful work we started a decade ago. Instead, we find ourselves grappling with the reality that our most iconic event, recognized nationally and internationally, cannot continue under current conditions.

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We call on policymakers and cultural leaders to recognize the value of independent, diverse, and community-focused initiatives before more essential events and opportunities are lost. Semente remains committed to its mission and will continue to advocate for a cultural environment that supports creativity, diversity, and fairness.

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