About Concert of Colors: Detroit’s Free Global Music Festival
Concert of Colors is one of the nation’s longest-running, largest, free global music festivals, bringing world-class performances from around the globe to Detroit.
Held annually in Midtown Detroit, this free, family-friendly music festival features live music, cultural programming, and community experiences both indoors and outdoors at the Detroit Institute of Arts and across the city’s leading cultural institutions.
A Festival Rooted in Community and Culture
The Concert of Colors is produced through a powerful collaboration of cultural organizations across Southeast Michigan. Housed within CultureSource, a coalition of more than 150 arts organizations, the festival has grown into the Midwest’s largest global music and arts festival.
Its mission is simple but powerful: to unite Detroit’s diverse communities through music and dance from around the world while creating space for dialogue, connection, and cultural exchange.
A Legacy of Growth
Founded in 1993 by Ismael Ahmed and New Detroit, Concert of Colors began as a one-day event at Chene Park. What started as a modest gathering quickly grew into one of Detroit's most beloved summer traditions.
1993
Festival founded
Ismael Ahmed and New Detroit launch a one-day celebration of multicultural music at Chene Park.
1999
10,000 attendees
Six years in, the festival crosses a major milestone as attendance reaches 10,000.
10,000 attendees2001
Three-day expansion
For Detroit's 300th anniversary, the festival grows to three days and draws more than 100,000 attendees.
100,000+ attendees2019
Nine days of programming
The festival reaches its largest footprint yet — nine days spanning venues across Detroit.
9 daysToday
Tens of thousands attend each year
Concert of Colors remains one of Detroit’s most beloved summer traditions, welcoming families and music lovers from across the region.
Expanding Across Detroit’s Cultural Institutions
Over the years, the festival has expanded into a multi-venue experience across Detroit’s cultural district. Key milestones include:
2005
Opening night at Orchestra Hall
Opening night moves to the Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center — a landmark venue upgrade.
Orchestra Hall2006
DSO partnership
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra joins as a partner, deepening the festival’s ties to the city’s classical music tradition.
DSO2010
DIA becomes the central hub
The Detroit Institute of Arts joins as a major venue and takes its place as the festival’s central gathering point.
Detroit Institute of Arts2011
Multi-venue expansion
Performances spread to the Scarab Club and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.
Scarab Club Wright MuseumA Celebration of Global Music
World music is at the heart of Concert of Colors, including the indigenous sounds of Detroit itself.
The festival features artists from around the globe alongside local performers, creating a dynamic and diverse musical experience.
In addition to live performances, the festival includes:
Cultural programming
Food vendors representing global cuisines
Film screenings
Poetry and spoken word
Children’s activities and family programming
Music as a Platform for Dialogue
Concert of Colors goes beyond entertainment by creating space for meaningful conversations around culture, identity, and community.
In 2014, the Arab American National Museum revived the Forum on Community, Culture and Race, a conference that brings together artists, cultural leaders, and community members to explore how the arts can help bridge racial and cultural divides.
A Lasting Impact
For more than three decades, Concert of Colors has remained one of the few large-scale, free-admission music festivals in the region.
It continues to serve as a cornerstone of Detroit’s summer festival season — a place where music, culture, and community come together to celebrate the city’s diversity and shared experiences.
Festival Partners
Concert of Colors is made possible through partnerships with leading cultural and community organizations, including:
CultureSource
Detroit Institute of Arts
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
ACCESS
University of Michigan Detroit Center
Michigan Science Center
Detroit Historical Museum
College for Creative Studies
Hellenic Museum of Michigan
Third Man Records
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Midtown Inc.
Arab American National Museum
WDET
The Scarab Club
International Institute of Metro Detroit
University of Michigan Arts Initiative
Marx Layne & Company