WOMEX, the leading world music expo, has announced the first wave of Official Showcase artists for its 31st edition, set to take place in Tampere, Finland, from October 22–26, 2025. This marks the second time the event returns to Tampere, continuing its mission to unite the global music community.
This initial artist reveal features 18 acts representing 25 countries, spanning genres from folkloric traditions to avant-garde experimentation. Highlights include the return of Somali funk icons Dur-Dur Band International (now based in the UK); Dutch-Turkish performer Meral Polat with her mix of Anatolian folk and Kurdish soul; and Cape Verdean singer-songwriter and former Culture Minister Mário Lúcio, performing with The Pan African Band.
The lineup also features genre-defying acts like Gordan, a transnational trio blending traditional and experimental sounds; Colombian cumbia torchbearer Yeison Landero; and Grammy-winning Los Angeles-based group La Santa Cecilia, known for their fusion of Latin, rock, and folk styles. Local talent is also on display with Vimma, a Finnish septet that brings together pop and ecological themes, and Zily, who mixes afrobeat, amapiano, and traditional influences from Mayotte and Madagascar.
WOMEX plans to release a second artist announcement in the coming weeks.
Founded in 1994, WOMEX has evolved into a key global platform for world music professionals, artists, and industry delegates. The event is known for its inclusive, genre-spanning approach and its commitment to cultural exchange and artistic excellence.
The Official Showcase program is curated by a seven-member independent jury, five focused on artist showcases and two on conference programming. Each year, over 1,000 proposals are reviewed through an open call.
In parallel, the Club Summit segment is curated in collaboration with the WOMEX showcase team, with further announcements expected soon.
The first set of Jury-selected WOMEX 25 Showcase artists are:
- Akram Abdulfattah (Palestine / USA)
- Dal:um (South Korea)
- Dur-Dur Band (Somalia / UK)
- Fleurs Noires (Argentina / France)
- Gordan (Serbia / Austria / Germany)
- Kizaba (DR Congo / Canada)
- La Santa Cecilia (Mexico / USA)
- Liraz (Iran / Israel)
- Mario Lucio & The Pan African Band (Cape Verde)
- Manhu (China)
- Meral Polat (The Netherlands)
- Oumy (Senegal)
- Spafford Campbell (UK)
- Toasaves (Belgium / Spain)
- Vimma (Finland)
- Yegor Zabelov (Belarus / Poland)
- Yeison Landero (Colombia)
- Zily (Madagascar / Mayotte / France)
More about WOMEX.
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central