Unmanageably costly counterterrorism requirements at short notice

PRESS RELEASE
Dresden, 10 April 2025

Unmanageably costly counterterrorism requirements at short notice for the
INTERNATIONAL DIXIELAND FESTIVAL in Dresden –
Organizers do not see themselves as responsible

Security requirements imposed by the City of Dresden would cause the Saxon Festival Association to incur additional costs of more than €120,000 – organizers appeal to the city administration not to let the festival down

The International Dixieland Festival in Dresden – the world’s largest and oldest festival for traditional jazz, now just ahead of its 53rd edition – has been facing unexpected financial, logistical and organizational challenges once again since 24 March 2025. Recent attacks on people in various German cities have led the Dresden city administration to dramatically tighten the security requirements for major public events. These measures now also affect the “Dresden Jazz Mile,” which stretches during the festival from the main railway station to the historic old town and, thanks to the generous support of WT Energiesysteme GmbH, had been planned for 2025 again in its full scale with eight stages. The minutes of the security consultation with the public order office of the state capital Dresden state: “For securing the Dixieland Festival and, in particular, the planned stage locations of the Jazz Mile, additional protective measures to prevent vehicle attacks are necessary. (…) The planning and costs of elements that need to be procured additionally must be borne by the organizer.”

“We have great understanding for the necessary counterterrorism measures. However, we neither caused the changed security situation nor could or can we prevent it, yet we are expected to shoulder the financial burden at short notice in order to maintain our musical offering for up to 400,000 fans and visitors from Germany and abroad. Raising more than €120,000 by the start of the festival on 11 May to cover all requirements financially, materially and in terms of staffing is virtually impossible and is also not within our area of responsibility,” explains Hendrik Meyer, press spokesman for the Saxon Festival Association (SFV), which organizes the International Dixieland Festival.

The organizers hold that counterterrorism should generally be regarded as a state responsibility, as it is part of hazard prevention and falls under the state’s monopoly on the use of force. The federal government and the federal states are responsible for measures relating to internal security. The SFV sees itself as responsible for the general safety of the festival, but not for counterterrorism measures that go beyond the typical risks of an event.

The festival organizers would now have to take measures to meet the new security requirements, even though legal and financial responsibility has not yet been clarified. For example, only certified fixed and mobile barriers are permitted; these must be installed at all access points and in some cases guarded by security personnel. The City of Dresden is not even remotely able to provide the required number of barriers. These would have to be rented at considerable expense from Mannheim—where they are still in stock—transported to and from Dresden, and erected and dismantled at the performance areas.

The City of Dresden, which benefits from the festival as an important economic, tourism, and image-building factor, has so far remained tight-lipped regarding support for implementing the necessary security measures.

“We appeal to the City of Dresden to recognize the significance of the International Dixieland Festival for the city, its citizens, and the many visitors, and not to let us down here. This is not just about music, but also about cultural identity and about a music event in our city that is unique in the world and internationally renowned,” Meyer concluded.

The free-to-attend “Dresdner Jazzmeile,” open to everyone, is a central part of the festival and offers more than 120 hours of live jazz over three days. This event not only attracts music lovers, but also has a significant economic impact on the city of Dresden. Hospitality, retail, and the hotel industry have benefited for decades from the high number of visitors drawn by the festival. The decades-long positive image that visitors associate with the festival is also a hallmark of the city.