Selam Festival is no longer a baby—nor is the Selam organization. Since day one, we’ve wanted to bring music from around the world to Stockholm, and over time, the city has started to catch up. Today, when Caribbean dance music, genres like Afrobeats and Amapiano, jazz from Ethiopia, rock from Zambia, and reggae from Panama can be heard in bars and clubs around town, the bar is raised for what a festival that aims to broaden the city’s horizons needs to focus on.

But this isn’t a competition. Just like in recent years, this year’s edition of the festival is just as much about linking arms with the artists, collectives, musicians, and clubs we believe bring color and creativity to Stockholm, as it is about presenting international stars to the audience.

We’ve never been obsessed with chasing trends, but we’re always driven by passion and curiosity—and by the desire to showcase the rich musical diversity the world has to offer. Sometimes the world is at your feet. Rarely has Stockholm displayed such musical variety, but it’s becoming increasingly clear that not everything exciting happens in the city center. At the same time, there are still few platforms dedicated to musicians, artists, and DJs focusing on music from Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America.

We’ve always aimed to balance tradition with innovation—but this year, the most groundbreaking part might just be the introduction of entirely new content. While music has always been at our core, Selam is a cultural association, not just a music organization. For the first time, we’ve made a significant effort to highlight both visual art and music during the festival.

The festival is about shared experiences—especially those that often, unjustly, end up on the margins, yet unite so many people in our city. It’s an adventure we’re embarking on, and we’re excited for the encounters, conversations, and experiences that the art and food will bring—making both the festival and the city feel bigger.

Selam Festival Stockholm 2025 is made with the support of Stockholms Stad, Kulturrådet och Region Stockholm.