Fête de la Musique – "Feast of Music" or "Day of Music" – is a music festival held annually on June 21 on the solstice day.

Originally "Feast of Music" was organised in 1982, in Paris on the initiative of the French Minister of Culture, Jacques Lang.

The lead character of this celebration in Paris is music. It is music that can be heard everywhere. On concert stages and in parks, on streets? Crossings and pedestrians, in houses, flats and restaurants, one can hear the beautiful sounds of modern and classical, sad and cheerful, African and Latin American music. People who can play a musical instrument – are playing, those who can sing – are singing. It is not a big deal if someone can neither sing nor play musical instruments. They go out on the streets of their hometown and become grateful spectators and listeners.

Since 1982, the festival has been organised by the major amateur federations and related organisations, including the Confédération Musicale de France, which brings together brass bands, and A Cœur Joie, which unites choral groups. Social and cultural institutions and associations help to showcase new musical forms. Music schools, conservatories, museums, municipalities, radio stations, TV channels, concert halls, music cafés and even government institutions organise their own concerts. Many concerts take place in the open air, in streets, squares, parks, courtyards, and railway stations. They are not aimed at commercial profit. The purpose of the festive events is to popularise music among population. Musicians are invited on a voluntary basis and all concerts are free of charge for the audience.

This celebration is an opportunity to open up completely new venues for concerts. The energy of all the "volunteers" who take part in this event gives this exceptional day an atmosphere of joy and fun, encourages a rethinking of the perception of music by listeners, and helps to cope with routine and ordinariness.

In its more than forty-year history, the festival has transcended national boundaries to become a global music event. Currently, more than 100 nations and 340 cities around the world host live performances by musicians every year at the end of June as part of the "Fête de la Musique". It has become a bank holiday in several countries (Luxembourg, Italy, Greece, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia). It is held in major cities such as New York, Berlin and Mexico City. Adapting to the cultural specificities of each country, the organisers of the "Fête de la musique" have been able to reinterpret purely French traditions, and the festival has become a landmark international musical event.

On Friday, June 21, 2024, the Feast of Music will once again take place in Paris, as well as all over France! This is a great opportunity to take to the streets again to freely sing, dance, discover new and listen to well-known, already favourite bands and artists. Whether you're a fan of rock, jazz, electro, rap, metal or classical music, you're sure to find what you're looking for, as the "Fête de la Musique" brings together all styles and genres in one day.

On this day in France there are parades of orchestras and concerts in which both "stars" and unknown artists take part, performing musical works of absolutely all genres, from classical music to the most modern trends.

Music is loved around the world, often bringing people together and giving joy. World Music Day emphasises the positive power of music by encouraging people to come together, play instruments, dance and sing. World Music Day gives everyone the opportunity to listen to their favourite music while promoting peace and goodwill.

On June 21, 2024, Russia will join the world music community and celebrate the French music festival Fête de la Musique. The evening will feature performances by multilingual bands popular in Russia, groups that skilfully combine in their repertoire lyrical ballads about the love of romantic France with the drive of colourful compositions in several languages in the author's interpretation.

Th mark the Feast of music, we invite you to listen to popular French melodies that will remind you of romantic Paris. Our new selection includes wonderful songs of French chanson and famous hits of French pop – lyrical ballads of Joe Dassin and sensual tunes of Dalida.

* In Russia, "Fête de la Musique" was first held in 2011 in Voronezh. On the initiative of local music lovers, three stages were organised in the city centre, where musicians from different cities of Russia, Ukraine and Germany performed. In 2012, the Embassy of France in the Russian Federation organised performances of French musicians in 13 cities from Moscow to Vladivostok as part of the federal programme "Feast of Music".