France’s Fête de la Musique brings 18 live music performances to Ho Chi Minh City this weekend

Originating in France, Fête de la Musique is an annual cultural celebration held on the summer solstice, symbolizing the arrival of summer and the spirit of creativity, promoting live music in all its diversity and making it accessible to audiences from all walks of life.

Launched by France's Ministry of Culture in 1982, the event quickly evolved into a large-scale public festival that is free and open to everyone, from professional musicians to amateur music enthusiasts.

Embracing a spirit of openness, spontaneity, and live music, Fête de la Musique encourages performances in a wide range of settings, including restaurants, cafés, and outdoor public spaces.

The festival not only celebrates the diversity of musical genres but also promotes wider access to the arts by bringing music closer to audiences from all walks of life.

Over the past four decades, the festival has expanded far beyond France, reaching more than 120 countries and major cities around the world.

It has become an iconic international cultural event that showcases music's enduring vitality and its power to bring people together.

The 2026 Fête de la Musique in Ho Chi Minh City, presented by the French Institute in Vietnam, will bring together 16 partners, 15 venues, and 18 performances across the city, spanning cultural spaces, bars, theaters, and independent stages.

Over the two-day event on June 20 and 21, audiences will be able to explore a wide range of musical genres, from classical music, jazz, and acoustic performances to pop, rock, contemporary works, and improvised acts.

Organizers said the festival is meant to create a diverse 'music map' across the city, allowing audiences to move freely between venues and discover a variety of musical genres and performances.

In France, most Fête de la Musique events are traditionally free of charge to make music accessible to a wider audience.

In Vietnam, however, the model may be adapted to suit the characteristics and operating requirements of individual venues.

Through the festival, the French Institute in Vietnam hopes to enrich urban cultural life and gradually establish Fête de la Musique as an annual gathering for music lovers in Ho Chi Minh City.