Dominica launches 25th World Creole Music Festival with star-studded lineup

(CNW) – Dominica is turning up the volume for the silver anniversary of its signature cultural event. The Discover Dominica Authority (DDA) has officially launched the 25th edition of the World Creole Music Festival (WCMF), set to take place from October 24 to 26, 2025, at the Windsor Park Sports Stadium in Roseau.

Held under the theme “Global Echoes of the Nature Island: Celebrating 25 Years of Creole Music, Magic, and Memories,” the 2025 WCMF promises three electrifying nights of performances from regional powerhouses, international icons, and beloved local legends.

Festival Highlights

Night One – Fire & Foundation (Friday, October 24)

A celebration of trailblazers who shaped the Caribbean’s musical heritage:

• Burning Flames (Antigua)
• Midnight Groovers, Halibut, Gilles Fontaine, TK International (Dominica)
• Nu Look (Haiti/USA)
• Romain Virgo (Jamaica)
• Oswald (St. Maarten)
• Steel Pulse (UK/Jamaica)

Night Two – Creole Carnival (Saturday, October 25)

A high-energy celebration of Creole rhythm and Caribbean connection:

• Asa Bantan, WCK, The Bouyon Assembly, First Serenade, Gordon Henderson, Ophelia Marie, Lynford John (Dominica)
• Joé Dwét Filé (Haiti/France)
• Kes The Band (Trinidad & Tobago)
• Spice, Vybez Kartel (Jamaica)

Night Three – The Grand Finale (Sunday, October 26)

A world-class lineup to close out the weekend in epic style:

• Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)
• Bunji Garlin & Fay-Ann Lyons (Trinidad & Tobago)
• Extasy Band, Michele Henderson, Elisha Benoit, Trilla G, Nice, Reo, Shelly & Signal Band (Dominica)
• Ezra “Da Fun Machine” (St. Lucia)
• Kassav (Guadeloupe & Martinique)

First staged in 1997, the World Creole Music Festival has become a premier cultural event in the region, spotlighting genres like zouk, bouyon, kompa, reggae, dancehall, soca, and afrobeat. The 2025 edition not only honors the past 25 years but also positions Dominica as a leader in cultural tourism and artistic innovation.