About us
The world to Oslo and Oslo to the world.
The world to Oslo, Oslo to the world.
Since 1994, Oslo World has presented music from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and SWANA – from tradition bearers to groundbreaking contemporary artists. The festival is a meeting place for musical expressions from across the globe, and over more than three decades it has built a program defined by innovation, quality and strong artistic identity. Oslo World creates space for encounters between Oslo’s residents and visiting guests from diverse cultural backgrounds and experiences.
Oslo World is known for its wide range of genres, where local expressions meet global currents. Jazz, electronic music, hip hop, rock, pop, folk and club music coexist, and a single evening can span everything from intimate solo concerts to large-scale club experiences – from acoustic formats to uncompromising electronic music. What unites the program is not genre, but the ambition to present strong and relevant musical voices.
The festival has been early in presenting artists who later reached wide international audiences, while also hosting established names with long and influential careers. Among the artists who have appeared at the festival are Khaled, Gilberto Gil, Youssou N’Dour, Marisa Monte and Gipsy Kings. Several Norwegian artists have also performed at Oslo World early in their careers, including Undergrunn, ULD, Sa_G and Pumpegris.
Oslo World is first and foremost a music festival, but its program extends beyond the concert stage. The non-music program, consisting of seminars, film screenings, art exhibitions and other formats, is an essential part of the festival. Oslo World has invited activists, designers, artists, architects, dancers and actors to Oslo, and aims to contribute to cultural expression and freedom of speech through artistic practice.
In addition to the annual festival in week 44, the Oslo World foundation produces a wide range of events throughout the year. The Vårt Nabolag series takes place at reception centres across Norway, bringing together refugees and local communities through cultural and culinary experiences. Since 2013, Oslo World has also co-organised Beirut & Beyond in Lebanon, and the foundation is responsible for the children’s festival Barnas verdensdager, as well as concerts, seminars and events year-round.
BACKGROUND
In autumn 2011, the Oslo World Music Festival Foundation was established as an independent foundation after 18 years as a part of Concerts Norway. The purpose of the festival was to run an annual music festival with high artistic quality and a sociopolitical context. Our ambition is to reach out to a broad, music-loving and curious audience.
Today, the festival is one of the foremost of its kind – not only in Norway, but also in a wider context. Oslo has grown into becoming one of Europe’s most vibrant concert cities – and Oslo World is, and will continue to be, essential to that development.
When?
Week 44 every year. In 2026 the festival takes place between October 27 - November 1.
Board
Goran Obad
Anne Moberg
Nora Paynter Gundersen
Emnet Kebreab
Oslo World er støttet av
Kulturrådet
Oslo kommune
Sparebankstiftelsen DNB
Fritt Ord
Music Norway
Bergesenstiftelsen
Kulturtanken
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