On January 11, 2026, globalFEST will return for its 23rd year at Lincoln Center, featuring acts from four continents and taking place across three stages.
Since its founding in 2003 globalFEST has been an organization willing to highlight international and regional American music allowing many artists to begin U.S. touring careers. Devoted to encouraging social awareness through musical discovery and is recognized for bridging cultural divides while facing gender inequality and advocacy for artists whose homelands face crises, national disasters, and hardships.
Co-directors Bill Bragin, Isabel Soffer, and Shanta Thake stated “globalFEST is about more than music. It’s about bringing diverse communities together for a celebration of creativity, resilience, and stories from around the world. At a time when connection across borders feels more important than ever, this year’s lineup reflects the joy and binding power of our distinct musical heritage and experiences. We can’t wait for audiences to take part in this full-theater takeover at David Geffen Hall, where every corner of the building will come alive with the sounds of the world.”
The 2026 globalFEST lineup features: Al-Qasar: psychedelic Arab Fuzz rock that combines North African trance with Arabic modes; Dale Watson & His Lone Stars with Special Guest Celine Lee: legendary Outlaw Texas Honky-Tonk and country; David Rivera y La Bámbula: soul-stirring tropical rhythms combined with Puerto Rican bomba, and Latin jazz; Insun Park & Generals: groundbreaking fusion of rock, Korean traditional music, and the vibrant rhythms of Gangnyeong mask dance;Maria Mazzotta: dynamic Southern Italian vocals meet the rhythms of the Balkans; Nidia Góngora: famed singer and guardian of Afro-Colombian music reinterprets ancestral rhythms with contemporary sounds;Raiatea Helm: master of Hawaiian leo kiʻe kiʻe falsetto singing who brings to life a rare and refined vocal style;Saami Brothers featuring Ustad Naseeruddin Saami: khayal and qawwali devotional music from Pakistan; The Naghash Ensemble: mystical Armenian poetry combined with haunting vocals, ancient instruments, and modern classical music; Vopli Vidopliassova: celebrating four decades as one of Ukraine’s most influential bands.
Tickets for globalFEST 2026 are on sale now. To make the arts more accessible, tickets are available on a Choose-What-You-Pay basis. Visit the event page for more information.
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