2024 World Music Festival

Now in its ninth edition, World Music Festival @ Taiwan 2024 ran October 11–13 across the outdoor plaza, Live House D and Legacy TERA at Taipei Music Center, staging 28 performances and hosting 17 international curators and media from 15 countries including the Czech Republic, Poland and the Netherlands — building a three-way meeting ground for artists, media and industry.

At the opening press conference, Japan's ten-piece Minyo Crusaders had the whole room on its feet within minutes: "This is our first time in Taiwan — we hope everyone dances with us tomorrow too!" Italy's Suonno D'Ajere brought a three-piece set steeped in Neapolitan folk tradition, and Taiwu Ancient Ballads Singers — the first Taiwanese act to play WOMAD UK's main stage — performed in full traditional Paiwan dress.

Wang Shu-fang, Director-General of the Bureau of Audiovisual and Music Industry Development, noted in her remarks that the festival has drawn 260,000 attendees to date. Wind Music's founder Yang Chin-tsung added that this year's edition hosted 17 international curators and media and drew entries from around 100 international acts for the showcase selection, creating a space for genuine exchange between local and visiting industry professionals.

Over the three days, acts from Malaysia, Canada, the Congo, the Netherlands and Buryatia shared stages with Taiwanese artists including L8ching, Sheng Xiang & Band and Across the Lost Grassland. The "Voices of Women" program paired South Korea's The Tune and Hohak with Buryatia's Namgar for a cross-cultural set on women's narratives, while "Forging an Island" brought three-time Golden Melody winner Luan Tan A Xiang together with Yijing Band to redefine what Taiwanese rock could sound like. A "Global Market" food bazaar and a family drum-circle workshop rounded out the festival for audiences of every age.

This year's showcase selection drew a record 169 submissions from 35 countries. From a single lively press conference to three days of performance, industry exchange and cultural programming, World Music Festival @ Taiwan keeps narrowing the distance between Taiwan's music scene and the world's.