(headline image: Tampere – Photo by Juha Suhonen)
Tampere, Finland, will host the 31st edition of world music conference WOMEX from October 22-26, 2025. This marks the city’s second time hosting the event, following a successful run in 2019. The announcement precedes the upcoming 30th edition, set to take place in Manchester, UK, from October 23-27, 2024.
Renowned for its vibrant cultural scene, Tampere is Finland’s second-largest urban area. It has a deep industrial heritage as well as modern arts, technology, and music hub. Tampere’s lakeside location, well-developed infrastructure, and welcoming atmosphere make it an ideal setting for international events like WOMEX.
The Tampere Hall, the largest concert and congress center in the Nordic region, will serve as the main venue, offering top-tier facilities for performances, conferences, and networking. Additional showcase venues include Tavara-asema, Olympia, Hotel Torni, and Arthouse Cinema Niagara, which will host film screenings.
WOMEX is known for its diverse musical offerings, attracting professionals from various genres, including world music, contemporary folk, jazz, electronica, and classical music. The 2019 edition in Tampere drew over 2,500 delegates and featured more than 60 performances, setting a high benchmark for the upcoming event.
Alexander Walter, WOMEX Director, shared his excitement about returning to Tampere: “We are thrilled to bring WOMEX back to Tampere, a city that truly embraces creativity and innovation. The 2019 edition was a great success, and we’re excited to see how Tampere will once again provide the perfect backdrop for artists and professionals to share their work, network, and be inspired.”
Meanwhile, Mikko Manninen, Executive Director of Music Finland said: “Our folk music is a strong brand in the world, known for its high artistic quality and originality. WOMEX, coming to Finland for the second time, offers musicians and other professionals a unique opportunity to showcase their music and make international contacts. Contemporary Finnish folk music is one of the sharpest points of our music exports.”
Lastly, Matti Helimo, Deputy Mayor of Tampere stated: “Tampere is very happy to welcome WOMEX back to our city. Events and lifestyle are strongly part of the city’s strategy, and the music professionals’ event fits in perfectly with this strategy.”
Organized by German music company Piranha Arts AG, WOMEX 2025 will involve key Finnish partners such as Rockadillo Production Oy and Music Finland, with support from the Ministry of Education and Culture, the City of Tampere, and Visit Tampere.
More about WOMEX.
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central