The four-day celebration of Fête de la Musique 2026 has recently concluded in Dhaka, bringing together artists from Bangladesh, Brazil, Finland and France through a vibrant programme of concerts, workshops and cross-cultural collaborations.
Organised by Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) in partnership with several cultural and artistic institutions, the festival ran from June 10 to 13, offering audiences an immersive experience of diverse musical traditions, innovation and international artistic exchange.
The festivities began on June 10 with an Electronic Music Workshop led by French musician and percussionist Subhash Dhunoohchand at Butternote – A Jazz Café. The interactive session introduced participants to electronic music production, rhythm programming, improvisation and contemporary approaches to music-making.
On June 11, audiences attended BOSSA au Soleil Couchant – A Bossa Nova Experience at Sunset, featuring performances by Finnish artist Mirva Tuulia, Brazilian musician Áquila Lima and Bangladeshi performers Imran Ahmed, Towfiq Arifin and Tanveer Haque. The concert celebrated the enduring appeal of Bossa Nova while highlighting the value of intercultural artistic dialogue.
Later that evening, music enthusiasts gathered at Goethe-Institut Bangladesh for TABLATRONIC, where Dhunoohchand presented an inventive fusion of tabla, percussion and electronic sound design. The performance showcased how traditional musical forms can be reimagined through contemporary technology.
The celebration continued on June 12 with A Celebration of Music by the Students and Teachers of Alliance Française de Dhaka. Students from the institution’s Piano and Guitar Workshops performed alongside teachers, demonstrating their artistic growth while paying tribute to French musical heritage through a repertoire of popular Francophone songs.
One of the highlights of the programme was a performance by The Society, a newly formed group comprising musicians from diverse artistic and linguistic backgrounds. Blending jazz-inspired arrangements with a multilingual repertoire, the ensemble offered audiences a fresh and engaging musical experience.
The evening concluded with an intimate concert by noted Bangladeshi musician Tapesh Chakraborty at Café la Véranda. His expressive melodies and storytelling through song captivated attendees and added a reflective dimension to the festival.
The final day of the festival featured performances by students of Bangladesh Academy of Fine Arts (BAFA), participants of the Subcontinental Classical Music Workshop and a range of emerging and established artists representing different genres and traditions.
A major attraction of the closing evening was Bangla Brasil: The Sound of the Universe, a collaborative percussion performance by Áquila Lima and Bangladeshi musician Mithun Chakra. Drawing inspiration from the rhythmic traditions of both Brazil and Bangladesh, the performance highlighted music’s unique ability to transcend borders and connect cultures.
The festival concluded with a spirited performance by the band SHORBONAM. Their energetic stage presence and distinctive sound provided a fitting finale to four days of creativity, collaboration and cultural exchange.
With its blend of workshops, live performances and international partnerships, Fête de la Musique 2026 once again reinforced Dhaka’s growing role as a hub for global cultural dialogue, leaving audiences with lasting memories of music’s power to unite people across languages and traditions.
