Lang Biang International Music Festival 2026 Opens in Lam Dong

The opening ceremony of the Lang Biang International Music Festival 2026 took place on the evening of November 14 at Lam Vien Square in Da Lat, Lam Dong Province.

Attending the event were Pham Trieu, Member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Board and Standing Vice Chairman of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Committee of Lam Dong Province; Dinh Van Tuan, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; and Ton Thien San, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The programme featured performances by Lam Dong Band, Meteora Band from the United States, Horizon Band from France and Vietnamese rock group Ngu Cung, alongside local artists, traditional performers and dancers.

Music connects Central Highlands heritage with the world

In his opening remarks, Dinh Van Tuan, Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and Head of the Steering Committee for UNESCO Creative City of Music activities, said music was an integral part of Da Lat's identity, serving as a bridge between people and nature, and between the locality and the world.

Da Lat's inclusion in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of Music in 2023 recognised the city's cultural values and creative potential, while also placing responsibility on the locality to promote music's role in economic, cultural and social development.

The festival is intended to translate Da Lat's UNESCO commitments into concrete activities and promote the culture, people and tourism of Lam Dong to domestic and international audiences. It also provides a platform for artists, traditional performers and communities to connect, exchange ideas and create new works rooted in the region's musical heritage.

“Music is not only an art form for Da Lat, but also part of the city's identity, a source of inspiration and a bridge between people and nature, and between the locality and the world,” said Dinh Van Tuan, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee.

A distinctive feature of the Lang Biang International Music Festival is its blend of the cultural identities of Lam Dong and the Central Highlands with contemporary and international music, bringing together heritage passed down through generations and emerging creative trends.

Preserving cultural identity while encouraging creativity

Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Dinh Van Tuan outlined three messages conveyed by the festival: music as a bridge for culture and friendship; creativity rooted in cultural identity; and music connected with communities and sustainable development.

He emphasised that respecting and preserving the Central Highlands' musical heritage must go hand in hand with encouraging innovation, allowing traditional art forms to remain part of contemporary life. Community participation, opportunities for artists and tangible benefits are key measures in building a creative city.

Lam Dong expects the festival to help establish a distinctive music tourism product, expand international cooperation and foster a broader creative ecosystem. Dinh Van Tuan expressed his hope for continued support from UNESCO, central government agencies, other creative cities, businesses, artists and local communities in pursuing these goals.

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From the vast Lang Biang Highlands, we send our friends near and far a message about a Lam Dong that is rich in cultural identity, welcoming and creative, and always open to new connections.

Dinh Van Tuan, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee

From traditional rhythms to international rock and pop

Following the opening ceremony, Lam Vien Square came alive with energetic performances and a diverse musical atmosphere. The sounds of gongs and traditional instruments blended with vocals and dances rooted in Central Highlands culture, setting the tone with songs about village life and the homeland.

From the sounds of the highlands, the programme shifted to energetic rock, international pop and rock hits, before returning to Vietnamese folk-inspired music through performances by Ngu Cung. The sequence of different musical styles created an atmosphere of exchange, bringing diverse cultural expressions together on one stage.

Lam Dong Band opened with “Vui Buon Lang”, “Tuyen Lam Em” and the medley “Tit Lau Ra – Ngon Lua Cao Nguyen – Bai Ca Que Huong”, featuring traditional performers and dancers.

Meteora Band followed with rock songs including “Papercut”, “Numb” and “In the End”. France's Horizon Band brought pop and rock influences to the stage with “Smooth”, “Yellow” and “Viva La Vida”.

Vietnamese band Ngu Cung showcased its distinctive fusion of rock and traditional Vietnamese musical elements through “Don Em Tro Ve”, “Cuop Vo Nguoi Mong”, “Co Doi Thuong Ngan” and “Nguoi O Dung Ve”.

The programme also incorporated 3D mapping and hologram technology into several performances, adding a visual dimension to the musical experience.

Through the festival, Lam Dong hopes to make music an ambassador connecting Da Lat and the province with audiences in Viet Nam and around the world, while promoting the image of a culturally rich, welcoming and creative destination. These connections are expected to open up further opportunities for cultural exchange, international cooperation and the development of tourism products with a distinctive musical identity.

Nguyen Luan