City of Chicago Reveals 2026 World Music Festival Chicago Lineup Celebrating Global Music

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10-Day Festival Brings Artists from Around the World to Venues Across Chicago

CHICAGO - Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) today announced the lineup for the 2026 World Music Festival Chicago, taking place Friday, Sept. 25, through Sunday, Oct. 4, at venues across the city. The annual festival celebrates the sounds, traditions and artistry of musicians from Chicago and around the world, offering audiences opportunities to experience musical traditions spanning continents and generations.

"World Music Festival Chicago demonstrates how our cultural sector strengthens Chicago by bringing people together while creating opportunities for artists, cultural organizations and neighborhoods across our city," said DCASE Commissioner Kenya K. Merritt. "By presenting a global musical roster we are investing in the creative economy, activating cultural spaces throughout our neighborhoods and giving residents and visitors an opportunity to experience the diverse influences shaping Chicago's cultural identity."

From the Chicago Cultural Center to neighborhood spaces across the city, the 26th World Music Festival Chicago will activate multiple citywide venues to celebrate diverse heritages through music. Throughout the 10-day festival, musical genres from geographical regions including Puerto Rico, Japan, Brazil, Pakistan and more will be presented for free to the public.

Returning for its 14th year, the country's largest all-night presentation kicks off with live Indian classical music for Ragamala at the Chicago Cultural Center.

Ragamala gives guests the rare opportunity to experience ragas (traditional scales or modes) during the late-night and early-morning hours when they are traditionally meant to be performed. The Ragamala celebration takes place in the Preston Bradley Hall within the Chicago Cultural Center from Friday, Sept. 25, at 6 p.m. through Saturday, Sept. 26, at 8 a.m.

The festival concludes Sunday, Oct. 4, with the Global Peace Party at Humboldt Park Fieldhouse. The free, all-ages celebration runs from noon to 5 p.m. and features performances by the Mary Hazboun Ensemble, representing Chicago and Palestine; Ghana's Gyedu-Blay Ambolley; and Puerto Rico's El Laberinto del Coco.

World Music Festival Chicago programming is generously supported by the following sponsors: Chicago Transit Authority and Millennium Garages.

Full schedule below and online at WorldMusicFestivalChicago.org.

2026 World Music Festival Chicago Schedule
Friday, Sept. 25 - Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026
Ragamala: A Celebration of Indian Classical Music
Chicago Cultural Center, Preston Bradley Hall
78 E. Washington Street, 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60602
6 p.m. - 8 a.m., FREE

Presented by DCASE in collaboration with People of Rhythm Productions, South Asian Classical Music Society of Chicago, South Asia Institute, and Gandharva Mahavidyalaya North America.

6-7 p.m. (Carnatic / Hindustani)
University of Chicago's South Asian Music Ensemble

Vocals:

• Minu Pasupathi
• Shruti Kannan
• Tomal Hossain

Instrumentalists:

• Sonny Patel, bansuri
• Pramantha Tagore, sarod
• James Sudd, bass guitar
• Ronnie Malley, oud
• Lucia Thomas, violin

Percussion:

• Harsha Bharati, mridangam
• Midhhun Ajikumar, mridangam ​

7:30-9 p.m.: (Hindustani)
Dr. Ratish Tagde, violin; Lokesh Anand, shehnai; Hindole Majumdar, tabla.

9:30-10:45 p.m.: (Carnatic)
Maalavika Sundar, vocal; Vijay Muralidharan, violin; Sai Ragavan; mirdangam; Payannur Govinda Prasad, morsing.

11:15 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.: (Hindustani)
Lyon Leifer, bansuri flute (Honoring Lyon's 80th Birthday); Nitin Mitta, tabla.

1-2:30 a.m.: (Carnatic)
L. Shankar, double violin & vocals; Selvaganesh Vinayakram, kanjira, mridangam; Amit Kavthekar, tabla, Swaminathan Selvaganesh, kanjira, ghatam.

3-3:45 a.m.: (Hindustani)
Radhika Samson, surbahar; Tejas Tope, pakhawaj.

3:45-4:30 a.m.: (Hindustani)
Ramanan Venkatraman, hansaveena; Tejas Tope, tabla.

5-6:15 a.m.: (Carnatic)
Saraswathi Ranganathan, veena; Swaminathan Selvaganesh, kanjira; Sai Ragavan, mridangam; Payannur Govinda Prasad, morsing.

6:45-8 a.m.: (Hindustani)
Samarth Nagarkar, vocal; Praneet Marathe, harmonium; Tejas Tope, tabla.

Saturday, Sept. 26
Beatdown Sound System's Vibrations of Freedom
In partnership with Night Out In The Parks
Tom (Ping) Memorial Park
300 W. 19th St. beneath the 18th Street bridge
1-7 p.m. (Outdoor)
All Ages

Elida Almeida (Cabo Verde)
Luciano Antonio & Heitor Garcia (Chicago/Brazil)
Martyrs'
3855 N. Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60613
8 p.m. doors, 9 p.m. show
21+

Sunday, Sept. 27
From Bomba to Salsa: Back to the Roots with:
Joaquin Garcia (Chicago) and Bomberxs d'Cora (Chicago/Puerto Rico)
Chicago Riverwalk - The Confluence
342 W. Wacker Dr. (On the Riverwalk)
Chicago, IL 60654
2 p.m. show
All Ages

Rumbo Tumba (Argentina)
Ana Everling: Solo Session (Chicago/Moldova)
Three Top Lounge
1357 N. Elston Ave
Chicago, IL 60642
5 p.m. doors, 6 p.m. show
21+

Monday, Sept. 28
An Evening with The Saami Brothers (Pakistan)
Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts
915 E. 60th St
Chicago, IL 60637
6 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show
All Ages

Tuesday, Sept. 29
Sangjaru (South Korea)
Saraswathi Ranganathan & Tzu-Tsen Wu (Chicago/India/Taiwan)
South Asia Institute
1925 S. Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60616
6 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show
All Ages

Wednesday, Sept. 30
Ballaké Sissoko and Piers Faccini (Mali/England)
Minyo Crusaders (Japan)
Old Town School of Folk Music, Mauer Hall
4544 N. Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
6:30 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show
All Ages

Thursday, Oct. 1
Asase Yaa (NY/West Africa)
Deeply Rooted Dance Theater (Chicago)
Orchestra Azania Drum (Chicago)
In collaboration with Old Town School of Folk Music's Africa Out West
The Kehrein Center for the Arts
5628 W. Washington Blvd
Chicago, IL 60644
6 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show
All Ages

Friday, Oct. 2
Grupo Rebolu (NY/Colombia)
Radio Free Honduras (Chicago/Honduras)
Chop Shop + 1st Ward Events
2033 W. North Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647
8:30 p.m. doors, 9 p.m. show
21+

Saturday, Oct. 3
The Klezmatics (NY)
Los Vega (Mexico)
Beverly Arts Center
2407 W. 111th St
Chicago, IL 60655
1:30 p.m. doors, 2 p.m. show
All Ages

Saha Gnawa (NY/Morocco)
Chamni Sripraram Thai Music Ensemble (Chicago/Thailand)
Sleeping Village
3734 W. Belmont Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
8 p.m. doors, 9 p.m. show
21+

Sunday, Oct. 4
Global Peace Party
Humboldt Park Fieldhouse (outdoor)
1440 N. Humboldt Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60647
Noon-5 p.m.
ALL AGES

Noon-1 p.m.:
Mary Hazboun Ensemble (Chicago/Middle East)

1:30-2:45 p.m.:
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley (Ghana)

3:15-4:30 p.m.:
El Laberinto del Coco (Puerto Rico)

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Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) supports artists and cultural organizations, invests in Chicago's creative economy, and expands access to and participation in the arts throughout the city's 77 neighborhoods. As a collaborative cultural presenter, arts funder, and advocate for creative workers, DCASE engages Chicagoans and visitors of all ages and backgrounds, from downtown to neighborhoods across the city, to strengthen and celebrate Chicago. DCASE produces some of the city's most iconic festivals, markets, events and exhibitions at the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park and in communities throughout Chicago, serving a local and global audience of 25 million people. The Department offers cultural grants and resources, manages public art, supports film, television and other creative industries, and permits special events throughout Chicago. For details, visit Chicago.gov/DCASE and stay connected via our newsletters and social media.