Small World Music

brings contemporary Qawwali to Small World Music Festival on June 26.

Formed by Aakhya Singh, Saksham Singh, Dakshraj Sharma, and Sarvesh Dhir, the Toronto-based ensemble began with four international students from different regions of India who met in Canada and found a shared home in music.

Their set reimagines Qawwali in their own style, with rhythmic grooves, call-and-response vocals, chorus sections, and collective clapping that brings the audience into the performance.

📅 June 26 | 6:15PM
📍 Mabelle Park, 38 Mabelle Ave, Etobicoke
🤝 In partnership with

smallworldmusic.com/festival

Funded by the Government of Canada, Canada Council for the Arts, the Government of Ontario, Ontario Arts Council, the Toronto Arts Council, and the City of Toronto—through the Community Celebration Support Fund.

Financé par le gouvernement du Canada, Conseil des arts du Canada, le gouvernement de l’Ontario, Conseil des arts de l’Ontario, le Conseil des arts de Toronto, et la Ville de Toronto.
heritage .council

Introducing ._ , the first artist in BACKROOM, our new monthly series exploring the future of global nightlife in Toronto.

From Glastonbury to dancefloors around the world, the Saudi-born, UK-based DJ, producer, and presenter joins us this September at The Concert Hall.

Born in Saudi Arabia, raised in Japan, and now based in London, Nooriyah brings together SWANA sounds, electronic music, global club rhythms, and unexpected connections in every set.

Join us as we launch BACKROOM with one of the most exciting artists reshaping global club culture today.

📍 The Concert Hall
📅 September 2026

Tickets on sale now.
Link in bio.

.y brings Ukrainian soul to the Small World Music Festival stage.

Kyiv-born, Toronto-based artist braids ancient Slavic folk songs with jazz, funk, lush synths, groovy basslines, and the deep feeling of Ukraine’s heart and soul.

Her album Kyiv Soul, co-produced with Grammy award-winning Justin Gray, has earned praise from CBC, World Music Charts Europe, and two Canadian Folk Music Award nominations.

.y live

📅 June 27 | 2 PM
📍 Mabelle Park, 38 Mabelle Ave, Etobicoke
🤝 With

Funded by the Government of Canada, Canada Council for the Arts, the Government of Ontario, Ontario Arts Council, the Toronto Arts Council, and the City of Toronto—through the Community Celebration Support Fund.

Financé par le gouvernement du Canada, Conseil des arts du Canada, le gouvernement de l’Ontario, Conseil des arts de l’Ontario, le Conseil des arts de Toronto, et la Ville de Toronto.
heritage .council

and The Niniis take the TD Union Stage on June 24 for Global Music Nights.

Come experience Indigenous and global sounds in the heart of the city.

5:30pm to 7:30pm at Union Summer.

This past year, we held each other a little closer and let the music carry us forward.

Our 2025–2026 Annual Report is here, and it tells a story of community, resilience, and momentum.

It was a year marked by deep loss, as we said goodbye to our founder, Alan Davis, whose belief in music as a bridge between cultures continues to guide everything we do. It was also a year of meaningful progress, including securing our Youngplace spaces as a permanent home for artists, audiences, and communities for years to come.

Together, this community helped make possible:

🎵 1,846 artists on stage
👥 30,000+ audience members in person
🌍 4 out of 5 performances featuring equity-deserving artists
🎓 106 newcomer and equity-deserving artists graduated from the Music Incubator since 2020

From the Small World Music Series and Incubator to the Small World Centre, Ishq Festival, Going Global, and the many partnerships that brought artists to stages near and far, this year reminded us what is possible when people continue to show up for music, culture, and one another.

Behind every number is an artist, an audience member, a volunteer, a donor, a partner, a funder, a mentor, and a community member who helped carry this work forward.

We are proud of what we accomplished together. And we are just getting started.

Explore the full report: smallworldmusic.com/about



Cover Photo: Zamira Lacosta, Incubator Series 2025
Photographer: Julia Bissessar

Sounds Like Toronto, Sounds Like the World 🌍🎶

's 5-day series celebrates local musicians representing cultures from around the world.

We’re excited to be one of five guest curators, and our lineup takes the stage this Sunday, June 21, 2026.

FREE ADMISSION
📍 OLG Village Stage, 115 Cumberland Street

6:30 PM | Neda Mohammadpour
Iranian folk and traditional music carried through living stories, voice, and memory.

7:45 PM | Just Prince And Friends
A soulful alternative to mainstream South Asian representation, rooted in depth, feeling, and musical storytelling.

9:00 PM | Duck Society
Toronto-based jazz fusion featuring some of the city’s leading and emerging jazz musicians.

Sidewalk Sessions
📍 Yorkville Avenue / Bloor Street / “The Rock”

5:00 PM & 6:30 PM | Mir Kashif Iqbal
Kashmiri and Urdu rock blending indie-folk, progressive, and psychedelic sounds with evocative poetry.

5:00 PM & 6:30 PM | Eunice Keitan
Malaysian-Canadian Neo-Soul loop artist fusing R&B with ancestral Asian soundscapes.

5:45 PM, 7:15 PM & 8:30 PM | KOPI Trio
A hip hop and jazz trio exploring the deep connection between jazz tradition and hip hop culture.

Join us in Yorkville for an evening of music that sounds like Toronto and sounds like the world.

See you at Toronto Jazz Fest!

DJ General Eclectic brings his Boom Bike to Small World Music Festival!

Powered by a bicycle sound system, he'll be roaming Mabelle Park with music from across the globe, spinning everything from cumbia and chutney to funk, soul, soukous, and beyond. With nearly three decades behind the decks, General Eclectic knows how to turn any corner into a celebration.

📅 June 27
📍 Mabelle Park, 38 Mabelle Ave, Etobicoke

Small World Music Festival

Funded by the Government of Canada, Canada Council for the Arts, the Government of Ontario, Ontario Arts Council, the Toronto Arts Council, and the City of Toronto—through the Community Celebration Support Fund.

Financé par le gouvernement du Canada, Conseil des arts du Canada, le gouvernement de l’Ontario, Conseil des arts de l’Ontario, le Conseil des arts de Toronto, et la Ville de Toronto.
heritage .council