The Pakistan Music Festival 2026 opened at the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi with a colourful Grand Melodies Night featuring performances across classical, folk and contemporary music genres.
The three-day festival, organised by the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, began at the Jaun Elia Lawn. President Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi Muhammad Ahmed Shah welcomed guests and highlighted the role of music in Pakistan’s cultural identity and heritage.
The opening night featured performances by Ghulam Abbas Khan, Mehmood Ali Khan, Rashid Ali Haidri, Akhlaq Bashir, Noman Khan, Intizar Hussain, Mumtaz Sabzal, Kamran Saggu, Imran Nashad, Shehbaz Ali, Hira Qaiser, Kashia Kaif, Naila Saleem, Sonia Khan and Esha Adhiwal.
Noman Khan hosted the evening, while the performers received an enthusiastic response from the audience.
Speaking at the event, Muhammad Ahmed Shah said music was an important part of Pakistan’s cultural identity and national heritage. He said the festival aimed to provide emerging artists with a platform to showcase their abilities and gain wider exposure.
“There is no shortage of talented young people in Pakistan. What they need are opportunities and encouragement to move forward,” he said.
Shah also highlighted the participation of emerging singers who gained recognition through the Pakistan Idol platform. He said the festival was providing them with an opportunity to perform before a live audience and develop their careers.
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He described music as more than entertainment, saying it reflects a nation’s culture, heritage and collective sentiments. Pakistan’s diverse regions and languages have their own musical traditions, he added, and the Arts Council aims to bring these different cultural expressions together.
Shah said the Arts Council had consistently supported young artists and promoted performing and visual arts. He also mentioned the World Culture Festival, scheduled for October, as another initiative aimed at showcasing Pakistan’s creative and cultural diversity internationally.
He said Pakistani artists had the talent to represent the country through their work and expressed the Arts Council’s aim of presenting an image of Pakistan associated with peace, love, tolerance, creativity and cultural harmony.
“Art and culture are powerful means of bringing nations and people closer together,” he said.
The opening night featured a mix of classical, folk and other musical genres, keeping the audience engaged throughout the performances.
The three-day Pakistan Music Festival 2026 will continue at the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi until September 27. Families and music enthusiasts can attend by registering through the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi website.
