Jessen (German pronunciation: [ˈjɛsn̩] ⓘ) is a municipality on the Black Elster river and lies in the eastern part of Saxony-Anhalt in the district of Wittenberg.

In 1952, owing to East German administrative reforms, Jessen became a district capital in Bezirk Cottbus.

In 1992 came the amalgamation of the communities of Grabo, Gorsdorf-Hemsendorf, Lindwerder and Großkorga, and in 1993, Schweinitz, Gerbisbach, Klossa, Schöneicho, Steinsdorf and Dixförda.

Established businesses are mostly small and mid-sized concerns in metalworking, building, dairy processing and drink production.

The town is Germany's twelfth-largest municipality by land area, and is thereby about 3 km2 bigger than Munich.