Where is the World Music Festival in Chicago?

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.

World Music Festival | Free Events & Concerts in Chicago

World Music Festival Chicago

Sept. 26 – Oct. 5, 2025
Free admission • Multiple locations

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

This free, city-wide festival features artists from around the world at iconic venues around Chicago including the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park, and Navy Pier, bringing even more diversity to Chicago’s already rich music festival schedule.

This festival, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, 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 lineup and schedule

Ragamala during the Chicago World Music Festival — World Music Festival Chicago; Photo credit Walter S. Mitchell III, City of Chicago

Check out the full 2025 schedule for the 25th annual Chicago World Music Festival, showcasing musicians from 15 countries and regions. Highlights included Ragamala, an all-night-long presentation of live Indian classical music, and the Global Peace Picnic, the grand finale event at the lakefront Navy Pier.

Friday, Sept. 26

Ragamala: A Celebration of Indian Classical Music

Shahid Parvez, sitar; Amit Kavthekar, tabla
Charumathi Raghuraman, violin; Anantha R. Krishnan, Mridangam; Giridhar Udupa, Ghatam
Yogesh Samsi, tabla solo; Pratyush Goberdhan, sarangi (Tribute to Zakir Hussain)
U. Rajesh, mandolin; Swaminathan Selvaganesh, kanjira
Rakesh Chaurasia, bansuri flute; Amit Kavthekar, tabla
Mahadevan Sankaranarayanan, vocal; V.S. Gokul, violin; Sai Raghavan, mridangam
Flute J. A. Jayant, bansuri flute; K.V. Prasad, mridangam; Praveen Narayan, tabla
Rachna Bodas, vocal; Nitin Mitta, table; Praneet Marathe, harmonium

Chicago Cultural Center, Preston Bradley Hall