Biggest event in global music

Registration has started for the return of the cross-border festival event, which will be held for the 26th time, a statement by WOMEX owner Piranha Arts and the Hungarian organiser Hangvető says.

Hangvető, together with its strategic partner Café Budapest Contemporary Arts Festival, will organise events in the same venues as those used in 2015: Müpa, Bálna and the A38 ship.

The main acts will be announced later. The list of performers will be decided by a seven-member jury called the “Seven Samurai”. This year, more than 1600 entries have been received, from which the samurai, including Balázs Weyer, will select performers.The World Music Expo is not just a series of exciting concerts but also a fair and conference, bringing together major players in the field of folk and world music from nearly 100 countries. It is the biggest event in the global music scene, allowing music publishers, concert and festival organisers, and performers to meet and focus on the global industry.

The history of the Germany-based festival goes back to 1991, as it was originally part of the Berlin Independence Day celebrations. It took the name WOMEX in 1994. In addition to Berlin and Budapest, there have also been events in Brussels, Marseille, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Rotterdam, Seville and Santiago de Compostela.

The organisers say Budapest has a rich musical culture, whether it is classical, modern experimental, electronica, alternative or traditional Hungarian and Roma folk music. The city is regarded as a vibrant musical hub with a unique blend of east meets west, old meets modern culture and lifestyle, making it a valuable city for another exciting edition of WOMEX.

October 2020 will be a prime time for world music in Hungary’s capital. The Café Budapest Contemporary Art Festival (previously known as Budapest Autumn Festival) is planned for October 2-18, though the dates are not official yet.