Music Meeting Festival celebrates its 40th edition during Pentecost, from May 22 to 25, 2026, with a new setup in the city center of Nijmegen. Main program includes artists such as Rhiannon Giddens, Mádé Kuti, BCUC, Parvathy Baul, and Naïssam Jalal.

Nijmegen city center as a stage

After many unforgettable open-air editions, Music Meeting moves back to the center, where four top locations in Nijmegen and partner institutions open their doors for the festival. During the day, the festival hub can be found in and around LUX, in the evenings Music Meeting will take place successively at Doornroosje, the Stevenskerk and De Vereeniging. 

Celebrate Africa at Doornroosje

Music Meeting kicks off on May 22 at pop venue Doornroosje with a tribute to International Africa Day. Nigerian multi-instrumentalist Mádé Kuti, grandson of the legendary Fela Kuti, makes his Dutch debut here. His fresh interpretation of afrobeat is beautifully complemented by the raw punk energy, mixed with hip hop, funk, and traditional rhythms from South Africa by BCUC. The versatile Senegalese producer IBAAKU brings the urban vibe of Dakar. Singer-songwriter Oumy from Nijmegen combines her Senegalese and Dutch roots in grooving indie folk. 

Indian Raga Night in the Stevenskerk 

On May 23, the impressive Stevenskerk will be the setting from sunset until late at night for Indian classical and folk music: an invitation to let yourself be carried away, to experience Hindustani and Carnatic sounds as they are meant to be. In collaboration with guest curator and tabla player Heiko Dijker, a broad program with masters and gurus will be presented. The renowned singer Parvathy Baul from Bengal will alternate with the captivating shehnai player Ashwani Shankar. The young sarod player Debasmita Bhattacharya shines and shares the stage with the trio Jayant, Balakrishna SG, and our own Heiko Dijker. 

Music Meeting in De Vereeniging 

May 24 we return to concerthall De Vereeniging, the cradle of Music Meeting! With a program line where folk, roots, Americana, and blues set the tone. Grammy winner and singer Rhiannon Giddens, who previously collaborated with Beyoncé, together with multi-instrumentalist Francesco Turrisi, delivers deeply felt interpretations of gospels, folk and blues. In addition, Canadian First Nation’s singer Diyet & the Love Soldiers will perform. She sings both in English and in her native Southern Tutchone, and her pure voice is accompanied by (guitar, mandolin and drums. The evening is completed with Puuluup: a dynamic, quirky duo from Estonia that breathes new life into the traditional antique lyre talharpa in a surreal way. 

Music & films at LUX 

For three days, arthouse LUX serves as the stage for concerts and film screenings during the day. On May 23 we welcome the Korean crossover K-pop band nuMori. On the same day, the ÁMÁL Ensemble: a new Amsterdam band with seven young musicians from Syria, Siberia, Mexico, and France, full of fresh musical crossovers. On May 24, the singer Ibelisse Guardia Ferragutti, explores with her band Awichas the ritual and microtonal music of the Andes. On May 25, the Caribbean-American Sera Kalo eX.II performs: a versatile singer-songwriter and composer who blurs soul, jazz, electronic grooves, and other influences. Also on May 25, the French-Syrian flutist Naïssam Jalal performs with her project Quest of the Invisible. Previously announced: Esdras Nogueira, Peter Somuah, Mattias de Craene ft. Black Koyo, Lagon Nwar. 

The Music Meeting film program at LUX will be announced soon, as well as the surprising and free accessible  fringe program at and around Mariënburgplein, located next to LUX, which will be transformed into a three-day festival hub.

MAIN PROGRAM

Fri May 22 

- Doornroosje (20:00 - 00:00): BCUC / Oumy / Mádé Kuti / IBAAKU 

Sat May 23 

- LUX (14:30 - 19:30): ÁMÁL Ensemble / Peter Somuah / nuMori 

- Stevenskerk (21:00 - 03:00): Parvathy Baul / Trio Jayant, Balakrishna SG & Heiko Dijker / Ashwani Shankar / Debasmita Bhattacharya 

Sun May 24 

- LUX (13:30 - 18:30): Lagon Nwar / Esdras Nogueira / Awichas 

- De Vereeniging (20:00 - 00:00): Rhiannon Giddens / Diyet & Love Soldiers / Puuluup 

Mon May 25 

- LUX (13:30 - 18:30): Mattias De Craene ft. Black Koyo / Sera Kalo eX.II / Naïssam Jalal

www.musicmeeting.nl