WOMEX – World Music Expo 2025 (22 – 26 October 2025)
Culture Ireland is offering a limited number of delegate bursaries to WOMEX World Music Expo, one of the most important international professional marketplaces for world music including folk, roots, ethnic and traditional music.
The four-day event attracts in excess of 2,000 delegates from over 90 countries, including hundreds of concert and festival bookers, labels, publishers, distributors, managers and the world’s media. Culture Ireland has supported selected bands to perform at this key showcase event as well as a delegation of musicians, agents and promoters to WOMEX since 2010.
This year’s event will take place in Tampere, Finland from 22 to 26 October 2025.
Application Process
Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:
• established music industry personnel (including artists’ management, agents, and self-managed artists) with a track record of national and international performance (self-managed bands, ensembles and solo artists are all eligible)
Applications will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:
• evidence that they are in a position to capitalise on this opportunity including availability of promotional materials
• evidence of positive independent critical recognition for the artist(s)
• completeness and quality of their application
Culture Ireland’s presence at WOMEX is as a partner in Horizons, an initiative of music export and cultural agencies from Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Selected delegates will participate on the Horizons Stand to promote their work to the international arts industry presenters and promoters attending WOMEX.
Applicants from the Republic of Ireland should apply online to Culture Ireland. The award (€800 per delegate) is towards the costs of return flights, registration and a contribution towards accommodation and subsistence. Only one delegate bursary will be awarded per group.
Click here to apply.
Artists who are participating as Showcase Artists at WOMEX are ineligible for delegate funding.
Applications from Northern Ireland should apply through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland here.
The deadline for submission of completed applications for a delegate bursary is Thursday 10 July at 5pm.
Decisions will be made in August.
Image: Clare Sands, WOMEX Showcase Artist 2024.
