A spokesperson says---
"...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.
...activate multiple citywide venues to celebrate diverse heritages through music...musical genres from geographical regions including Puerto Rico, Japan, Brazil, Pakistan and more will be presented...
...live Indian classical music for Ragamala.. to experience ragas (traditional scales or modes) during the late-night and early-morning hours when they are traditionally meant to be performed...
Global Peace Party...features performances by the Mary Hazboun Ensemble, representing Chicago and Palestine; Ghana’s Gyedu-Blay Ambolley; and Puerto Rico’s El Laberinto del Coco..."
2026 World Music Festival Chicago Schedule
September 25, 2026 – September 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.
September 26, 2026
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+
September 27, 2026
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+
September 28, 2026
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
September 29, 2026
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
September 30, 2026
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
October 1, 2026
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
October 2, 2026
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+
October 3, 2026
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+
October 4, 2026
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)
