The world's leading professional music fair returns to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
The World Music Expo is the world's most important professional fair for world music and folk. Every year it brings together more than 2,300 professionals from 90 countries: promoters, labels, managers, festivals, booking agencies, journalists and artists who shape the global industry.
The programme combines live showcases by 350 artists, a professional market, conferences, panels, networking and the WOMEX Awards, the most prestigious recognition in the world music sector. More than 250 specialist journalists cover the event from every corner of the planet.
Bringing WOMEX to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in 2026 is no coincidence. It is the result of years of work, relationships and commitment to the island as a reference point for the music industry. Juan Salán and Santiago Gutiérrez worked intensely to ensure that the sector's most important world music event chose Gran Canaria again as its host city.
The estimated economic impact exceeds 3 million euros in visitor spending, with thousands of hotel nights, flights and activity across the city during event week. Beyond the economic impact, WOMEX places Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the Canary Islands on the international cultural industry map, with 2,300 professionals from around the world experiencing the destination first-hand.
For Salán Producciones, driving projects like this is part of a broader mission: not only bringing concerts, but building a cultural ecosystem in the islands that connects local artists with the world.
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria hosts WOMEX for the first time. The city proves it can stage one of the world's most demanding cultural events.
After the success of 2018, Juan Salán and Santiago Gutiérrez work to bring it back. Las Palmas becomes host city for a second time, strengthening its position as an international cultural reference.
Images from the first WOMEX edition in Gran Canaria, which proved the island's ability to host one of the world's most demanding cultural events.
Las Palmas strengthens its position as an international cultural reference with WOMEX 2026
Official WOMEX websitewomex-festival.com — Programme, showcases, accreditations and full event information
Salán ProduccionesAre you a music industry professional? Contact us for WOMEX 2026 collaborations