French-American singer Violet Indigo during first appearance in Indonesia through Fête de la Musique 2026. (Institut français d’Indonésie)
Indonesia joined millions of people around the world in celebrating Fête de la Musique, or World Music Day, through a series of free concerts and cultural events held in several cities across the country.
First launched in France in 1982, Fête de la Musique (literally meaning Music Festival in French) has become a global celebration of music, encouraging artists to perform in public spaces and making live music accessible to everyone. This year, the French Embassy in Indonesia and Institut français d’Indonésie (IFI), together with local partners, organised activities from June 21 to 23 in Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Medan and Denpasar
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DJ Rizky Rixx, one of the opening performance on Fête de la Musique 2026 held in Bundaran HI Car Free Day on June 22, 2026. (Institut français d’Indonésie)
In the capital city Jakarta, the event formed part of the capital’s 499th anniversary celebrations. Music performances took place at several public spaces, including IFI Jakarta during Car Free Day, MRT Bundaran HI Station, MRT Blok M Station and Summarecon Mall Serpong, bringing together local musicians and members of the public throughout the day.
Gavendri, one of the local musician lineup held a performance on MRT Blok M station during Fête de la Musique on June 22, 2026. (SEA Daily/Sadina Aimee)
The celebrations continued on June 22 with a special concert at Plaza Fatahillah in Kota Tua as part of the Jakarta Light Festival. The concert featured French-American singer, songwriter and producer Violet Indigo, who made her first appearance in Indonesia.
Alongside the performances, the event also highlighted cultural exchange between Indonesia and France. Throughout the end of June, local to international musicians participated in various activities organised by IFI’s cultural network and its partners across the archipelago.
Fête de la Musique 2026 also included a professional workshop programme held in Jakarta on June 23 in collaboration with MTN Musik. French music industry professionals Gwendolen Sharp and Leila Bellot led discussions on sustainability in the music sector and career development opportunities, creating a platform for dialogue and collaboration between French and Indonesia.
As one of the world’s largest music celebrations, Fête de la Musique continues to serve as a platform for cultural exchange and artistic collaboration. Through performances in public spaces and engagements with local creative communities, this year’s Indonesian edition highlighted the growing cultural ties between France and Indonesia while giving audiences across the country greater access to international music and artistic experiences.
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