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A world of music from England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland/Alba and Cymru/Wales

The Horizons partnership celebrates the diverse music that comes from England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland/Alba and Cymru/Wales – helping talented artists gain international recognition on the world stage.


For 10 years, the Horizons partners have joined together at WOMEX (Worldwide Music Expo) to ensure our grassroots musicians reach wider audiences by providing advice, funding, showcasing opportunities and assistance at the event.  

WOMEX is the perfect platform to introduce our homegrown artists to peers and industry professionals from across the globe, with plentiful learning and networking opportunities across the five-day exhibition and conference.

The Horizons partnership is brought to you by Arts Council England, Culture Ireland, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Creative Scotland, Wales Arts International, Arts Council of Wales, British Council and British Underground.

About our partners

showcase your music at WOMEX

Get ready… In 2024, WOMEX will take place from 23-27 October in Manchester, UK,

The call for Music Programme proposals is now open, and closes on 1 March.

WOMEX 24 presents musicians from England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland/Alba and Wales/Cymru with a unique opportunity to perform on their doorstep in front of the largest gathering of international industry professionals.

This global gathering will be held at iconic venues across the city, with Manchester Central hosting the main conference and trade fair, and venues including Aviva Studios, Albert Hall, Bridgewater Hall and 02 Ritz all hosting live music showcases.

The spectrum of music showcases at WOMEX span everything from traditional forms of music, including folk, acoustic, roots and jazz, to local culture, urban and electronic music.

Horizons regional stage

The WOMEX Showcase Festival selection is made each year by a group of seven hand-picked jury members.

While official places will be in high demand, there will be a further opportunity to take part on the Horizons Regional Stage – a platform for showcasing the best world music talent from England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

If you are an artist from one of these nations who submits a bid to the WOMEX Showcase Festival, you will have an additional chance to secure a valuable performance slot on the Horizons Regional Stage. There is no separate application process.

Artists from the Horizons nations not selected for showcase by the WOMEX jury, will automatically be eligible for consideration for the Horizons Regional Stage

If you have any questions about how to get involved in womex 2024, get in touch.

Discover our showcasing alumni

WOMEX is the most international music expo in the world and the biggest conference of the global music scene.

Showcases at WOMEX are famous for celebrating the diversity of global music, from Colombian psychedelic chicha to Estonian neo-zombie post-folk.  

In 2023, Horizons presented three artists who performed at the event in A Coruña, Spain.

Elephant Sessions

Hailing from the Scottish Highlands, Elephant Sessions combine the best of trad, funk and electronica. We spoke to them ahead of their electrifying performance at WOMEX 2023.

Matt Carmichael

Audiences at WOMEX 2023 enjoyed an outstanding set by Scottish jazz-folk saxophonist Matt Carmichael, who spoke to us about how improvisation fuels his live performances.

The Breath

Ríoghnach Connolly and Stuart McCallum received a standing ovation at WOMEX 2023 after performing songs which are as likely to touch on childhood summers and first love as cultural dislocation and grief.

10 years of Horizons playlist

Listen to our 10 Years of Horizons playlist to discover the best folk, jazz and world music artists from England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland/Alba and Cymru/Wales who have performed at WOMEX from 2013-2023.

conference programme

Expert speakers from around the world are invited to present their topics, projects and passions to the WOMEX delegates in 2024 – panel proposals highlighting every aspect of the UK scene are encouraged.

Last year’s conference saw more than 96 speakers from 45 countries in 18 conference sessions, 9 networking sessions and six mentoring sessions.

Topics included everything from ‘Artificial Intelligence in the Music Industry’ to ‘Exploring Indigenous Languages’.

The call for panel and film proposals opens on 25 January 2024 and closes on 1 March. Watch this space for more details.

film Programme

Music film-makers are invited to show their work at WOMEX 2024 – the top platform for world music in audio-visual media. The film screenings will include outstanding documentaries featuring musicians from all around the globe or those focused on music-related topics.

Horizons delegate passes

Attending WOMEX 2024 is your chance to experience the diversity of music being created across the globe, forge new creative partnerships and connect with international peers.

Manchester has an incredible music history, and WOMEX 24 provides the opportunity for all industry professionals to be part of its creative spirit.

Look out for information on discount delegate passes, funding opportunities, orientation workshops and more on our website, or email Steph Wilkinson at British Underground for more information.

HORIZONS Connect

'Horizons Connect' is a professional development programme provided by British Underground, seeking to enhance international networks for WOMEX 2024 in Manchester. In-person orientation presentations and community building will take place during the conference, alongside networking events and speed meetings.

If you are interested in taking part during your trip to WOMEX, please contact British Underground or the Horizons partners for more information and timings.

delivery partners

English Folk Expo is the Event Delivery Partner for WOMEX 2024. Brighter Sound will deliver the legacy programme for WOMEX 2024 to ensure a positive and lasting impact on the music sector, both locally and nationally.