globalFEST

globalFEST 2025

GLOBALFEST AT LINCOLN CENTER | January 12, 2025

The flagship festival at the core of globalFEST gives audiences the opportunity to experience extraordinary artists from all over the world – and around the corner – all in one night. On January 12, globalFEST is headed to Lincoln Center for the 22nd Festival!

MORE INFO HERE
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globalFEST promotes global and American regional music traditions, creates opportunities for artists, inspires discovery for arts professionals to present artists from diverse cultures, and introduces new music to the public. globalFEST believes that music can be a driving force toward a society that values cultural diversity as a source of unity rather than division.

Tours and cultural exchanges that result from globalFEST showcases have helped to build an ever-widening audience for global music and, by extension, an increase in international cooperation and collaboration. You can support globalFEST's continuing work here.
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As a direct consequence of performing at gF, most artists go on to tour at theaters, events, and festivals across the country and around the world. Tours and cultural exchanges, as well as press features and articles, that result from participating in gF have built an ever-widening audience for global music and, by extension, an increase in international cooperation and collaboration.

'Tiny Desk Meets globalFEST'

‍January 11-14

Facing dual challenges of the pandemic, along with hardening of international borders, globalFEST, for the first time, teamed with NPR Music’s Tiny Desk concerts to present exclusive video performances by 16 artists via NPR Music’s digital platforms, in a series entitled NPR Music’s Tiny Desk meets globalFEST.

Thank you for 4 incredible nights of celebration and global music! If you were unable to watch all four nights, catch up now on YouTube:

Rewatch all four nights:

Night OneHere

Night TwoHere

Night ThreeHere

Night FourHere

Featuring 12 new artists, as well as 4 globalFEST Alums, the four-night series (Jan 11-14) was hosted by African superstar Angélique Kidjo, who performed at the inaugural edition of globalFEST in 2004.

“Since the early 2000s, globalFEST has been my high point for uncovering new music from around the world. The annual NYC gathering inspired me to bring many of my discoveries to the Tiny Desk,” said Bob Boilen, creator of NPR Music’s Tiny Desk series. “Korea’s SsingSsing, the Palestinian electronics of 47Soul, and Jamaica’s Brushy One String have been a few stellar discoveries. And though we can’t gather together in a club this year, I’m thrilled that team globalFEST will bring new remarkable talents to our Tiny Desk (home) concert series, and we can all celebrate the joys of these expansive talents together.”

You can support globalFEST's continuing work here.

"The importance of a buzzed-about show at globalFEST should not be underestimated"

-Billboard Magazine

photo by Sachyn Mital

The flagship festival at the core of globalFEST gives audiences the opportunity to experience extraordinary artists from all over the world – and around the corner – all in one night (in normal times). globalFEST promotes global and American regional music traditions, creates opportunities for artists, inspires discovery for arts professionals to present artists from diverse cultures, and introduces new music to the public. globalFEST believes that music can be a driving force toward a society that values cultural diversity as a source of unity rather than division.

Tours and cultural exchanges that result from globalFEST showcases have helped to build an ever-widening audience for global music and, by extension, an increase in international cooperation and collaboration. You can support globalFEST's continuing work here. globalFEST co-directors are Shanta Thake-Kriegsmann, Isabel Soffer, and Bill Bragin

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Read NPR Music's review of gF 2020: Our Top Discoveries From globalFEST 2020
‍Read the New York Times review of gF 2020: At Globalfest, Rowdy Sounds From Around the World
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‍globalFEST is supported by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Québec Government Office in New York.

‍globalFEST is part of JanArtsNYC.org and its media partner, the NYC Mayors Office of Media and Entertainment.

Tiny Desk Meets globalFEST

globalFEST has teamed with NPR Music’s Tiny Desk concerts to present exclusive video performances by artists via NPR Music’s digital platforms, in a series entitled NPR Music’s ‘Tiny Desk Meets globalFEST.’
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Its first iteration in 2021 brought an untapped audience of online music fans, with 35.5% of same-day viewers being new attendees to globalFEST. The Tiny Desk Meets globalFEST program increased gF’s North American and global audiences with over 1,800,000 views, a number that is expected to continue to grow.

“globalFEST has been my high point for uncovering new music from around the world. The annual NYC gathering inspired me to bring many of my discoveries to the Tiny Desk. [...] I’m thrilled that team globalFEST will bring new remarkable talents to our Tiny Desk (home) concert series, and we can all celebrate the joys of these expansive talents together.”
-BOB BOILEN, CREATOR OF NPR MUSIC’S TINY DESK

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2025 gf Artists

See all globalfest artists

Past Events

See past globalfest events

globalFEST is supported by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, and the National Endowment for the Arts,.

‍globalFEST is part of JanArtsNYC.org and its media partner, the NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment.