Sept. 20 – 29, 2024
Free admission • Multiple locations

The annual World Music Festival is your passport to musical acts from around the globe.

This free, city-wide festival features over 30 artists from 22 countries at venues around Chicago including the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park, and Navy Pier, bringing even more diversity to Chicago’s already rich music festival line-up.

This festival, which has been held in Chicago for more than 20 years, embraces well-known stars and emerging artists in genres that range from traditional to contemporary. You can hear everything at the World Music Festival — from Indian classical music to Bulgarian bagpipes and Congolese funk.

World Music Festival

Last year’s schedule included musical acts from a diverse array of global regions, performing at some of the city’s more unique venues. Here are a few highlights:

Ragamala: A Celebration of Indian Classical Music
This festival favorite, now in its 10th year, is the largest all-night-long presentation of live Indian classical music in the United States.

Ragamala during the World Music Festival at the Chicago Cultural Center
Ragamala during the World Music Festival; photo by Walter Mitchell, City of Chicago

Global Peace Picnic
This all-ages show featured two stages and eight bands at this historic boathouse overlooking a scenic lagoon.

World Music Festival Finale
Headliners at this final performance included Cha Wa from New Orleans and Héctor Guerra representing Spain/Bolivia.

Other World Music Festival performances were held at Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, Constellation, Sleeping Village, Schubas Tavern, The Promontory, Reggies, and Chop Shop.

Find details on artists, venues, and more at the official website and follow the festival on Facebook and Twitter @WMFChicago or with #WorldMusicFestChi.

Please note: Schedule is subject to change. For the latest on all Millennium Park events, visit millenniumpark.org.