Around 3,000 people have already visited the city of A Coruña to take part in the WOMEX (Worldwide Music Expo) festival, considered to be the most international and diverse music event in the world. The mayoress of A Coruña, Inés Rey, picked up the baton last year in Lisbon to hold this spectacular event in the city of A Coruña, further proof that A Coruña is one of the European cities with the greatest projection in terms of tourism and also in terms of structural capacity to host events such as WOMEX.

Each edition unites around 5,000 people related to roots music, ethnic music, traditional music, jazz, urban and electronic sounds and folk music who come together in a city that is important for tourism to support and strengthen the role of culture in the world, as well as to disseminate its values while promoting creativity and music. A whole compendium of activities that contribute to intercultural understanding in a diverse way.

According to Inés Rey, "this event continues to consolidate our city as a reference in the organization of cultural events not only in Spain, but also in Europe. And proof of this is precisely the multiculturalism that we can appreciate these days in the streets and spaces of A Coruña, where people from different parts of the world enjoy culture in all its meaning".

Opening day in homage to Picasso

WOMEX 23 will begin this Wednesday with an Opening Day celebrating Pablo Picasso's life of continuous artistic innovation. Under the title 'Resounding Picasso: Celebrating The Master's Journey', four bands and artists from the cities and communities that marked the painter's life will perform at 20.00h at the Palacio de la Ópera.

The Andalusian Niño Josele, where Picasso was born; Caamaño&Ameixeiras from Galicia, where he began his artistic career; Karmento from La Mancha and Tarta Relena from Catalonia, where he held his first exhibition and connected with the most avant-garde artists, will be the groups performing tomorrow night. An artistic and musical journey that will take the public to discover the soundtrack of Picasso's life and work.

Five days with cultural and musical diversity as protagonists

The PALEXCO, the Opera Palace, the Parrote or different locations such as the Colón Theatre and the Rosalía de Castro's Theatre, the Sala Pelícano, the Playa Club and the Filmoteca de Galicia will host performances by national and international artists for five days, as well as more than a dozen documentaries and activities to support and make different cultures of the world visible.

In addition to all this, there will be more than 250 stands where people can learn about the preservation and promotion of differents musical styles and genres from countries such as Spain, Belgium, United States, Denmark, France, Italy, Lebanon, Poland, Bosnia Herzegovina, Finland, Mali, South Africa, Portugal, Venezuela, Uganda, Senegal, United Kingdom, Canada, Ghana, Colombia and Syria, among others.