Exploring New York’s 2026 GlobalFest Music Gala

Among the many enchanting artistic events held in the Upper West Side stands GlobalFest, housed inside the historic Lincoln Center. Taking place on the evening of January 11th, the international music festival featured artists from over 10 different countries coming together and sharing their cultural melodies. Ranging from passionate Italian ballads to Sufi arrangements, there was a spot for everyone on the map of music that night, waiting for Manhattan’s most curious music-lovers to explore. 

Founded in 2003, the festival aims to bring a diverse musical education to the city, highlighting underrepresented artists and culture. Arranged over several floors and stages, one can wander for hours, seemingly entering a different country with each level. Reaching to unite through community, the night held an appreciation among attendees for the wide range of global styles presented under one roof. 

“It’s my first time here, I was invited by my friend Maria Mazzotta who’s performing tonight. I’m very surprised and amazed about the concept of the festival because it’s about traditional music from different parts of the world. Music, it’s a language that has no barriers, no limits. It’s universal and it’s beautiful to celebrate that together,” guest Isabella Epifani said. 

Reaching nearly every continent, the program for the evening held musicians such as David Rivera playing Caribbean R&B, Grammy nominated Raiatea Helm singing Hawaiian leo ki‘e ki‘e (falsetto), The Naghash Ensemble playing Armenian folk music, and much more. Each artist brought their vulnerability to the stage, sharing an intimate part of tradition with the crowd. For the Saami Brothers, bringing Sufi mysticism into their music requires traditional Pakistani instruments such as tabla drums, and a seated arrangement to create their contemplative atmosphere. 

“We’re from Karachi, Pakistan and we’ve lived in the U.S. for two years. We’ve heard a lot about GlobalFest, we feel like it’s one of the most prestigious stages in the country, where artists are truly valued. We try to bring that out through music and connect our audience with the divine and peace taught by our cultural values. We think the festival is a huge win for creating diverse spaces,” Rauf Saami, part of the Saami Brothers, said. 

For most, GlobalFest is an opportunity to support unique creators and broaden worldviews. It is a divisive time in the U.S., when immigration and cultural celebration is under a microscope. To combat hatred, international music can serve as a restorative practice.  

“GlobalFest is a fantastic opportunity to have different voices and cultures be brought in from around the world. Especially in a place like New York, where everyone is from another place. It’s a perfect culmination of the world in one place. We all know what’s going on in our political climate, people are worried. Now more than ever, this music can be incredibly healing and unifying,” guest Mpeh Ntantang said. 

As we look forward to next year’s festival, the importance of GlobaFest’s mission to create a safe space for those to engage freely with art and uphold international allyship is eternally important. When we cherish all identities, our communities thrive.