City of Chicago Unveils 2025 World Music Festival Chicago Lineup

City of Chicago Unveils 2025 World Music Festival Chicago Lineup

The 10-Day Long Festival Features Musical Artists from 15 Countries and Regions Showcasing Traditional, Contemporary and Modern Music Styles

CHICAGO — Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) announced the music lineup for the 2025 World Music Festival Chicago, taking place Friday, Sept. 26, through Saturday, Oct. 5. The festival recognizes the contributions and artistry of musicians from around the world, hailing from 15 countries and regions.

“Chicago has always created and celebrated diverse and inspiring music,” said DCASE Commissioner Clinée Hedspeth. “Through music, we will continue to unite Chicagoans and visitors from all around the world. This festival grants us the opportunity to introduce audiences to new cultures and demonstrate music’s influence on humanity.”

From the Chicago Cultural Center to Navy Pier, the 25th World Music Festival Chicago will activate 12 citywide venues to celebrate diverse heritages through music, including a sunset to sunrise Ragamala event. Throughout the 10-day festival, musical genres from geographical regions including Colombia, Vietnam, Egypt, Bosnia and more will be presented for free to the public.

As a kickoff to the festival, the country’s largest all-night presentation of live Indian classical music, Ragamala at the Chicago Cultural Center, returns for its 13th year. Ragamala gives guests the rare opportunity to hear the ragas (traditional scales or modes) during the early morning and late-night hours as the instruments were meant to be played. The Ragamala celebration takes place throughout the Chicago Cultural Center from Friday, Sept. 26, at 6 p.m. through Saturday, Sept. 27, at 8 a.m.

A Global Peace Party at Navy Pier celebrates global peace with performances from 2 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5, closing out the festival.

Full schedule below and online at WorldMusicFestivalChicago.org.

2025 World Music Festival Chicago Schedule

Friday, Sept. 26 – Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025

Ragamala: A Celebration of Indian Classical Music

Chicago Cultural Center, Preston Bradley Hall

78 E. Washington Street, 3rd Floor

6 p.m. – 8 a.m., FREE

Presented by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events in collaboration with People of Rhythm Productions, South Asian Classical Music Society of Chicago, South Asia Institute, and Gandharva Mahavidyalaya North America

6 – 7:15 p.m. (Hindustani)

Shahid Parvez, sitar; Amit Kavthekar, tabla

7:45 – 9 p.m. (Carnatic)

Charumathi Raghuraman, violin; Anantha R. Krishnan, Mridangam; Giridhar Udupa, Ghatam

9:30 – 10:45 p.m. (Hindustani)

Yogesh Samsi, tabla solo; Pratyush Goberdhan, sarangi (Tribute to Zakir Hussain)

11:15 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. (Carnatic)

U. Rajesh, mandolin; Swaminathan Selvaganesh, kanjira

1 – 2:15 a.m. (Hindustani)

Rakesh Chaurasia, bansuri flute; Amit Kavthekar, tabla

2:45 – 4 a.m. (Carnatic)

Mahadevan Sankaranarayanan, vocal; V.S. Gokul, violin; Sai Raghavan, mridangam

4:30 – 6 a.m. (Carnatic)

Flute J. A. Jayant, bansuri flute; K.V. Prasad, mridangam; Praveen Narayan, tabla

6:30 – 8 a.m. (Hindustani)

Rachna Bodas, vocal; Nitin Mitta, table; Praneet Marathe, harmonium

Saturday, Sept. 27

IndigiFest: Celebrating Indigenous Culture at Jackson Park

In partnership with Night Out In The Parks and the American Indian Center

Jackson (Andrew) Park

Grove B at Science Drive and DuSable Lake Shore Drive

11 a.m. – 5 p.m.


All ages

Yeison Landero (Colombia)

Funkeria (Brazil/Chicago)

Martyrs’

3855 N. Lincoln Ave.

8 p.m. doors, 9 p.m. show

21+

Sunday, Sept. 28

Vân-Ánh Vanessa Võ & Blood Moon Orchestra (Vietnam/California)

Symbio (Sweden)

Sleeping Village

3734 W Belmont Ave.

1 p.m. doors, 2 p.m. show

21+

Monday, Sept. 29

Zar Electrik (North Africa/France)

Do The Needful (South Asia/Chicago)

Empty Bottle

1035 N Western Ave

8 p.m. doors, 9 p.m. show

21+

Tuesday, Sept. 30

Damir Imamovic (Bosnia)

Wanees Zarour Trio (Middle East/Chicago)

Constellation

3111 N. Western Ave.

6 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show

18+

Wednesday, Oct. 1

Nidia Góngora (Colombia)

Bomberxs D'Cora (Puerto Rico/Chicago)

Old Town School of Folk Music, Mauer Hall

4544 North Lincoln Avenue

6:30 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show

All Ages

Thursday, Oct. 2

Alioune Guissé (Sénégal/USA)

Abdoulaye Conde (Chicago)

The Promontory

5311 S. Lake Park Ave. W

6 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show

All Ages

Friday, Oct. 3

Alex E. Chávez “Sonorous Present” (Mexico/Chicago)

Olin

The Rhapsody Theater

1328 W Morse Ave.

6 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show

All Ages

Saturday, Oct. 4

Mohamed Abozekry Sextet (Egypt)

Diwan al-Han (Middle East/Chicago)

Beverly Arts Center

2407 W. 111th St.

1:30 p.m. doors, 2 p.m. show

All Ages

Loboko (DR Congo/New York)

Ode (Bosnia/Chicago)

Chop Shop + 1st Ward Events

2033 W. North Ave.

8 p.m. doors, 9 p.m. show

21+

Sunday, Oct. 5

Global Peace Party at Navy Pier

Hosted by Sonal Aggarwal

2 – 3 p.m.: The Harmony of Korean Music (South Korea/Chicago)

3:30 – 4:30 p.m.: Joaquin Garcia II’s “Eddie Palmieri Vive” Ensemble (Latin American/Chicago)

5 – 6:15 p.m.: Rogê (Brazil)

6:45 – 8 p.m.: Buyepongo (Latin American/California)

Navy Pier Beer Garden

600 E Grand Ave.

2 – 8 p.m.

All Ages

World Music Festival Chicago programming is generously supported by the following sponsors: Chicago Transit Authority and Millennium Garages.

For more information, please visit WorldMusicFestivalChicago.org and Chicago.gov/DCASE.


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