The Fête de la musique celebrates 40 years in 2022

Back to basics

According to the French ministry of Culture, in charge of the event, the 2022 edition of the “Fête de la Musique” (Music Day) “gives the opportunity to go back to basics” and “highlight the principles that guided its creation”, i.e. “A truly festive, popular and spontaneous event” for everyone promoting amateur performance.

Originally, focus was directed towards spontaneous and individual initiatives “without a hierarchy of genres and practices”. And this is the spirit in which this year’s event will be organised after two editions troubled by the health crisis. This key musical event is back in force, in the form of big public concerts (often organised by cities), but also with smaller ones in most higher education institutions and music academies, but above all in the streets, places, yards, parks or even train stations!

So many events

In Paris and the Île-de-France region, a very high number of free concerts of rock, rap, pop, classical, French, World, electronic music etc. are programmed everywhere, in heritage sites and historical monuments, but also on the banks of the Seine River and bars. In other French regions, free musical events are also planned by city halls, associations or individuals.

Medias and television are also engaged in the event, since a big music of modern music will be broadcasted on France Télévisions, live from the Esplanade de l’Europe in Montpellier to celebrate 40 years of popular hits in France and abroad. To be noted that TV5Monde also plans to broadcast concerts abroad.

An international event in 120 countries

The Fête de la Musique started its export as early as 1985, during the European Year of Music. According to the ministry of culture, which draws its history, the Fête de la Musique is now part of a charter, the European Music Day concluded in Budapest in 1997 and open to all new partners, including out of Europe, who want to be part of the Fête de la Musique.

The Fête de la Musique also considerably increased its size when it became a national event in 120 countries, such as China, Kenya, Canada, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, the United Kingdom, Poland, Italy or Greece, and in major cities such as New York, Berlin or Mexico. By adapting to the cultural specificities of each country, the Fête de la Musique managed to invent, reinvent itself and become an iconic international music event.

To know more: 

• “Fête de la musique” website
• The programme for Paris and all regions

Photo credit: © Ministère de la culture/Vincent Perrottet