Festival International
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Festival International De Louisiane is an annual music and arts festival held in Lafayette, Louisiana, celebrating the French heritage of the region and its connection to the French-speaking world. The festival was first held in 1987 and has attracted musicians, artists, and craftsmen from around the world. The festival is held outdoors in downtown Lafayette on the last full weekend of April and is free to the public. Estimates for attendance include 400,000 in 2016. The festival was voted the "Best World Music Festival" by About.com readers in their 2012 and 2013 Readers' Choice Awards.[2] 2020 saw a virtual event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
| Festival International Festival International de Louisiane | |
|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Festival |
| Date | April 22, 2026 |
| Ends | April 26, 2026[1] |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Country | United States |
| Inaugurated | July 2 – 5, 1987 |
| Website | https://www.festivalinternational.org/ |
The stated mission of the festival is to:
Enrich the community with a celebration of its native cultures through performing arts.
Educate the public of the historical achievements and artistic expressions of related global cultures while developing an appreciation for the arts.
Develop culture and tourism, as well as enhance economic development by expanding Louisiana’s reputation as an arts center and a destination for artistic events.[3]
Participating artists
Past performers at the festival have included:
- Alpha Blondy — Ivory Coast
- Balkan Beat Box — Israel
- BeauSoleil — United States
- Bomba Estéreo — Colombia
- Bonerama — United States
- La Bottine Souriante — Quebec
- Boukman Eksperyans — Haiti
- Buckwheat Zydeco — United States
- Ceux Qui Marchent Debout — France
- Cyro Baptista — Brazil
- DakhaBrakha — Ukraine
- Dominique Dupuis — New Brunswick
- The Duhks — Canada
- Francis Cabrel — France
- Frisner Augustin - Haiti
- Gangsters d'Amour - Belgium
- Gangbé Brass Band — Benin
- Henry Gray and the Cats — United States
- The Hooten Hallers — Missouri, United States
- Dr. John — United States
- Keb' Mo' — United States
- Kiyoshi Nagata Ensemble — Toronto
- Ladysmith Black Mambazo — South Africa
- Locos Por Juana — United States[citation needed]
- Los Lobos — California, United States
- The Lost Bayou Ramblers — United States
- MarchFourth Marching Band — United States
- Maria de Barros — Cape Verde
- Mousta Largo — Belgium
- Pierre Kwenders — Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Robert Randolph and the Family Band — United States
- Sergent Garcia — France
- Seun Kuti — Nigeria
- Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings — United States
- Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys — United States
- Skatalites — Jamaica
- Steel Pulse — England
- Suroît — Magdalen Islands, Quebec
- Tinariwen — Mali
- Toubab Krewe — United States
- Le Trou Normand — France
- Väsen — Sweden
- The Wailers Band — Jamaica
- Yerba Buena — Cuba
- Les Yeux Noirs — France
