Press Section

WOMEX – Worldwide Music Expo – is the most international and culturally diverse music meeting in the world and the biggest conference of the global music scene, featuring a trade fair, talks, films and showcase concerts.

Over 2,000 professionals (including 280 performing artists) come together every October from 90 countries, making WOMEX the leading networking platform for the world music industry. Its musical spectrum is unparalleled in the international showcase performance market, ranging from the most traditional to the new global local underground, embracing folk, roots, jazz, local and diaspora cultures as much as urban and electronic sounds from all over the globe.

WOMEX hosts 7 stages, around 700 exhibiting companies, 100+ speakers, films, an opening concert and an award ceremony across five networking days and nights.

WOMEX and its community aim to support and strengthen the role of culture around the globe and to spread its values through nurturing and promoting creativity and music. As a result, the local and global music community is able to – and needs to – contribute to cross-cultural understanding in a welcoming, tolerant, diverse and productive manner.

The event remains devoted to facilitating and promoting the global music industry and providing a platform to connect, inspire and share experiences, enabling new partnerships across transcontinental markets and an open economic and international cultural dialogue.

WOMEX 26 in returns to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria for the 2nd time following the 2018 edition.

Located in the Atlantic, just off the West African coast, Gran Canaria offers year-round sunshine, stunning landscapes, and a vibrant cultural scene. From its historic old town to its buzzing nightlife, Las Palmas is a city built for discovery—making it the perfect host for the 32nd edition of WOMEX.

At the heart of it all is the stunning Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, a world-class venue right by the ocean and the central hub of WOMEX 26. The Conference, Club Summit, Film programme, Showcases, Trade Fair, as well as the Opening and Award Ceremony will all take place within a short walking distance—allowing delegates to experience everything to the fullest without missing a moment of the programme or the ocean views.

Audio/Audiovisual Recording Permissions

If you would like to make audio/audio-visual recordings of any of the WOMEX Showcases, contact us and we will send you a simple agreement to sign. Once it is signed, you will be authorised to use your recording device during a particular performance.

Please note: there are specific recording restrictions placed on some of the Showcase concerts by artists, contact us for more information.

Recording the Trade Fair, Conference and Delegates

All delegates are free to create recordings or photographs of the general WOMEX atmosphere (e.g. in the Trade Fair Hall) without a special agreement from WOMEX.

Those interested in recording a Conference Session or a Networking Meeting, etc., please contact the speaker(s) beforehand to obtain their individual permission – email us to be supplied with the speaker(s) relevant contact details.

Delegates do not need special permission to take photos at WOMEX. However, please do mind the following rules for taking photos at the Showcase events:

• no flash
• no disturbing shutter/other sounds
• no access on-stage
• respect the artists and their audience

All photographers/camera operators will have access to the area right in front of the Showcase stages – there won't be any fences. However, only the three Official WOMEX Photographers will be allowed to go backstage/onstage.

During the event we will provide the press with a variety of WOMEX 26 event photos in hi-res. However, should you need any specific photos of the event, please contact the official WOMEX photographers to discuss terms.

Returning for yet another year, the WOMEX Radio Studio is equipped for both live broadcast and pre-recording, meaning that, however a radio show is made, it can be made at WOMEX. In previous years, the studio has seen animated discussions, interviews with artists and industry and live, impromptu performances from WOMEX artists, and this year promises to be no different.

If you are in need of a quiet spot to conduct interviews during WOMEX 26, a number interview rooms will be available to book at our daytime venue. We would also be happy to provide you the contact details of any showcase artist and their representatives, conference speaker or film presenter you may need.