Faire la Fête: 40 Years of Making Music

In the 40 years since it began on June 21, 1982, France’s Fête de la Musique has become one of the country’s most important holidays, with millions taking to the streets to make music together on the first day of summer. Countless other countries have been inspired to celebrate their own June 21 musical holidays, including the United States, Nigeria, China, Australia, UK, Germany, Italy and Brazil, to name a few.

To honor the event’s 40th anniversary in 2022, the Make Music Alliance is organizing Faire La Fête – 40 free concerts in 40 countries on June 21 featuring the music of French songwriters and composers – along with other anniversary events around the world.

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About the Fête de la Musique

In 1982, Jack Lang and his team at France’s Ministry of Culture dreamed up an idea for a new kind of musical holiday. They imagined a day where free, live music would be everywhere: street corners and parks, rooftops and gardens, store fronts and mountaintops.

And, unlike a typical music festival, anyone and everyone would be invited to join and play music. The event would take place on the summer solstice, June 21, and would be called Fête de la Musique (which means both “festival of music” and “make music!”).

Amazingly enough, this dream has come true: France shuts down on the summer solstice and musicians take over. Almost 8% of the country (5 million people) have played an instrument or sung in public for the Fête de la Musique. Today, 40 years later, the holiday has spread throughout the world and is now celebrated in more than 120 countries.

Joyeux anniversaire et bonne fête!

      
“Faire la Fête” is coordinated by Sylvie Canal (France), Aaron Friedman (United States), and Andria Nicodemou (Cyprus).

Now Posted: Videos from “Faire La Fête” on June 21, 2022!

Faire la Fête Around the World

Among the thousands of Fête de la Musique concerts worldwide, we highlight one concert in each of 40 countries that celebrates the event's 40th anniversary with music by a French composer or songwriter.

 
Algeria

La Caravane Passe

20:30 - 22:00

Institut Français d'Alger

07 Rue Capitaine HASSANI, Alger Ctre

Fusion
Italy

Voxtet Vocal Ensemble

16:00 - 21:30

Cathedral of San Mateo, Salerno

Piazza Alfano I, 84125

Renaissance
Italy

40th anniversary at Selinunte

Parco Archeologico de Selinunte

91022 Marinella di Selinunte

French Songs
Germany

40th Anniversary at Brandenburg Gate

18:30 - 21:30

Brandenburg Gate

Pariser Platz, 10117 Berlin

Pop
Canada

Alliance Française de Vancouver

16:30

Beaumont Studios

316 W 5th Ave, V5K 1K4

Pop
Australia

“Astrolabe”: a Jazz Suite by Chris Cody

18:30

Phoenix Central Park

Chippendale, NSW 2008

Jazz
Ireland

Claude Debussy – Bells through the Leaves

13:00

Connolly Train Station

1 Amiens St, North Dock, Dublin

Classical
France

Fête de la Musique

France

182 rue Saint-Honoré 75001 Paris

All genres
Cyprus

French Accordion Music

20:00

Eleftheria (Liberty) Square

Konstantinou Palaiologou 20e, Nicosia

Accordion Music
South Korea

Gritty Kitty + Laure Mafo

17:00

Yonsei-ro

Seodaemun-gu, Seoul

Rock
Hungary

French Chamber Music and More

19:00

Tóth József Theatre

Szentes, Petőfi u., 6600

Classical
India

Songs From Around the World

20:00

Prithvi Theatre, Juhu, Mumbai

20, Juhu Church Rd, Janki Kutir

World Music
Ecuador

Fusion with Johan Papaconstantino

19:30

Plaza San Francisco, Cuenca

Pdte. Cordova y P. Aguirre

Fusion
Netherlands

French Music at the Train Station

18:00

Delft Station

2611 AZ Delft

Classical
Uganda
Ghana

French Songs by Garou and Khaled

16:00

Accra Mall

Tetteh Quarshie Int., Spintex Rd

Pop
Turkey

Sun of the Day

20:30

Barnathan Rooftop

Şahkulu, Tımarcı Sk. No:1, 34421 Beyoğlu/İstanbul

French Songs
Peru

French Ukulele Concert

16:00

Peruke

Calle Baltazar La Torre 370 Timbre 1, San Isidro, Lima

Folk
Kenya

Frère Jacques

10:00

Ruben Center

Imara Daima, Nairobi

Folk
Ivory Coast

From Etoile du Sud to Boule noire

12:00

Avenue 14

Treichville, Abidjan

French Songs
Philippines

GutinBear in Siargao

14:00

Santa Fe Beach Park, Siargao

R4RR+72R, General Luna, Surigao del Norte

Electronic
Spain

Gypsy Swing Trio

20:00

French Institute of Zaragoza

Paseo Sagasta, 7, 50008 Zaragoza

Jazz
Poland

L’Egyptienne by Rameau

18:00

Rynek Square

Rynek, 37-700 Przemyśl

Accordion Music
Ukraine
Japan

100 Trumpeters

19:00

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

〒605-0862 京都府京都市東山区清水1丁目294

Classical
UK

Doria D

18:30

French Institute of the UK

17 Queensberry Pl, London SW7 2DT

Hip-Hop
Belgium

Music of Tristan Murail

20:30

Miry Concert Hall, Royal Conservatory of Ghent

Biezekapelstraat 9, 9000

Classical
United States

Faire la Fête at the Statue of Liberty

10:00 - 19:00

Liberty Island

Liberty Island, New York NY

Classical
Denmark

Vibeke Astner, the French Organ

19:30

Sct. Mortens Church, Randers

Vester Kirkestræde 7, 8900

Classical
Czech Republic

Oulala Jazz Band

19:00

Piaristické náměstí

370 01 České Budějovice, Czechia

Jazz
Portugal

Over the sky of Paris

19:00

Jardins do Palácio de Cristal

R. de Dom Manuel II, 4050-346 Porto

French Songs
Nigeria

Showgear Open Mic Night with Mike Frost

20:00

Showgear Shop

18 Little Road, Yaba, Lagos

Fusion
Brazil

Sing & Dance with Rebeca Realleza

19:00

Garagem Theater, Brasilia

Av. W4 Sul, SEPS 713/913 lt F

Hip-Hop
Greece

Carnival of the Animals

19:00

Lemnos Conservatory

Karatza 5, Mirina 814 00, Greece

Classical
Argentina

Tribute to Erik Satie

19:00

National University of La Plata

Av. 7 776, B1900 La Plata

Classical
Switzerland

From Bizet to Graphic Scores

18:30

Musikwerkstatt Basel

Theodorskirchpl. 7, 4000 Basel

Contemporary Music
Pakistan

Tribute to French Electronic Music

20:00

Varga Core, Bahria, Islamabad

B-10, Emp. Heights-II, Phase-VI

Electronic
Kurdistan

Tribute to French Electronic Music

20:00

Youth and Recreation Center

Bakhtiari Kon St, Sulaimania

Electronic
Mexico

Musique Concrète

16:00 - 20:00

Plaza Fundadores

Santiago de Querétaro

Electronic
Bulgaria

Varna sets the tone

16:00

Sea Garden

bul. "Slivnitsa" 100А, 9000 Varna Center

Classical

The Fête at 40: More Highlights and History

More 40th Anniversary Tributes

13 emblematic events in France for the Fête's 40th anniversary

Fête de la Musique Celebration at the Statue of Liberty

The Spirit of the Fête de la Musique, by Sylvie Canal

Fête de la Musique Posters, 1982-2022

More News

Frequently Asked Questions

Make Music Day (or just “Make Music”) is a free celebration of music around the world on June 21st, the summer solstice.

Completely different from a typical music festival, Make Music is open to anyone who wants to take part. Thousands of amateur musicians play in public spaces, often for their first time. Professional musicians perform for new audiences, who come out from under their headphones to hear unfamiliar groups risk-free. And everyone is invited to sing along and enjoy the first day of summer.

Today, Make Music is observed on the same day in more than 1,000 cities around the world. It is the world’s largest annual music event.

Make Music began in France as Fête de la Musique, a national musical holiday inaugurated in 1982. Ever since, the festival has become an international phenomenon, celebrated on the same day in more than 120 countries, including Australia, Brazil, China, Italy, Nigeria, and the United Kingdom.

The name Make Music comes from the French Fête (or Faites) de la musique, which means both “festival of music” and “make music!”

Anyone and everyone. Amateurs, part-time professionals, and established artists are all welcome. In the U.S., initiatives like “Mass Appeal” allow even those who have never before touched an instrument to join in.

Yes, Make Music takes place every June 21. (In 2021, it fell on a Monday; in 2022, it will fall on a Tuesday.)

If you are in a city with a Make Music organization, register through that city’s website. (Click here for the list of cities.) Make Music cities use a “matchmaking” platform that allows you to register your own concert, or to collaborate on a Make Music event with local musicians and venues that fit your tastes. Typically, registration for June 21 begins a few months before in March or April, but it depends on the city.

Absolutely. Download this kit (pdf) for tips on how to have your own Make Music event, wherever you are.

The Make Music Alliance can help you strategize, and help you demonstrate the benefits of Make Music to your local officials. Email matt@makemusicday.org to learn more.

In most of the world, each Make Music city is independently organized. Often it’s a local community group, media outlet, arts presenter, government agency, or civic leader who champions the musical holiday in their hometown.

The nonprofit Make Music Alliance exists to serve these Make Music organizers around the world. Its goals are to promote Make Music participation, provide tools to help manage the event in each community, and foster collaboration, mentorship, and mutual support among its members. Detailed membership benefits are described here.

In the United States, the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation is the presenting sponsor of Make Music Day.

Many countries have their own national coordinators and partners. Follow the links here to learn more.