AFD concludes ‘Fête de la Musique 2026’

Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) wrapped up ‘Fête de la Musique 2026’ in Dhaka with four days of music, workshops and cross-cultural collaborations from June 10 to 13, said a press release.

Organised in partnership with leading cultural and artistic institutions, the festival brought together musicians and performers from Bangladesh, Brazil, Finland and France, reaching audiences through a rich blend of rhythm, sound and intercultural dialogue.

Festivities began on 10 June with an electronic music workshop led by French musician and percussionist Subhash Dhunoohchand.

Participants delved into electronic music production, rhythm programming, improvisation and contemporary musical techniques in an interactive session.

On June 11, the event ‘BOSSA au Soleil Couchant – A Bossa Nova Experience at Sunset’ featured performances by Mirva Tuulia (Finland), Áquila Lima (Brazil), and Imran Ahmed, Towfiq Arifin and Tanveer Haque (Bangladesh).

The concert celebrated the enduring appeal of Bossa Nova and underscored the spirit of international artistic exchange, drawing audiences into its cross-cultural appeal. Later that evening, ‘TABLATRONIC’ showcased Subhash Dhunoohchand’s innovative fusion of tabla, percussion and electronic sound design.

On June 12, ‘A Celebration of Music by the Students and Teachers of Alliance Française de Dhaka’ featured performances by participants of the piano and guitar workshops alongside the institution’s teachers. The programme highlighted the artistic growth of the Alliance Français

e community and paid tribute to French musical heritage through a selection of beloved Francophone songs, strengthening its appeal to audiences.

A special highlight was a performance by The Society, a newly formed ensemble of musicians from diverse artistic and linguistic backgrounds.

On June 13, the final day, events were dedicated to musical diversity. Audiences enjoyed performances by students of Bangladesh Academy of Fine Arts (BAFA), participants in the Subcontinental Classical Music Workshop, and a range of emerging and established artists representing diverse musical traditions.

A major highlight was ‘Bangla Brasil: The Sound of the Universe’, a dynamic percussion collaboration between Brazilian artist Áquila Lima and Bangladeshi musician Mithun Chakra.The festival concluded with a performance by the band SHORBONAM.