Nordic Jazz Comets is about showcasing emerging Nordic jazz musicians on international stages and bringing together musicians, promoters, and Nordic jazz organizations. The goal of Nordic Jazz Comtets is to strengthen the Nordic jazz scene across national borders and musical divides, with a focus on sustainability and development. The heart of Nordic Jazz Comets is a showcase evening, featuring one band from each country involved in the initiative. Alongside the showcase, the performing artists participate in various activities, including networking events and knowledge-sharing sessions. Over the years, the showcase has collaborated with international festivals such as the EFG London Jazz Festival, Scope Festival in Berlin, Umeå Jazz Festival, Tampere Jazz Happening, Copenhagen Jazz Festival, and We Jazz.

Originally, Nordic Jazz Comets began as a talent competition for young Nordic jazz musicians under the name Young Nordic Jazz Comets, organized jointly by the jazz organizations of the Nordic countries. In 2012, Nordic Jazz Comets rebranded, removing “Young” from its name and shifting from a competition-based format to a true showcase, focusing on presenting the musicians to Nordic and international industry professionals. This shift towards a showcase model has helped increase the attention towards the Nordic Jazz Comets from both professional and audiences.

Previously, the winner of Ung Jazz automatically became the Danish contribution to Nordic Jazz Comets. Since 2015, the Danish entry has been directly selected in collaboration with Nordic partners, and from 2020 onward, it has been chosen by the Nordic Jazz Comets promoter’s network, which consists of venues and festivals across the Nordic region.