At its core stands music, complemented by visual arts, performance, and interdisciplinary as well as participatory dialogue formats. Salam Music provides a platform for international and local artists who aim to engage people through their work and illuminate social contexts through artistic expression.
The music program ranges from classical and traditional ensembles to contemporary currents - spanning rock and post-punk to electronic music. Since 2017, numerous remarkable guests have performed at Salam Music, including Ghalia Benali, Kiya Tabassian, Yasmine Hamdan, Emel Mathlouthi, Souad Massi, Aïta Mon Amour, Rasha Nahas, Alsarah & the Nubatones, Bab L’Bluz, Gaye Su Akyol, Renaud Garcia-Fons, Faiz Ali Faiz, as well as outstanding local formations such as the Orwa Saleh Ensemble, Kurdophone, the Sofia Labropoulou Ensemble, the Mahan Mirarab Ensemble, Golnar Shahyar, Marwan Abado, and Sakina Teyna - to name just a few.
Many more extraordinary artists will continue to enrich the festival in the years to come and inspire audiences.
24th festival edition — April 17–26, 2026
The 24th edition of the Salam Music festival will take place from April 17 to 26, 2026, at various venues throughout Vienna. As in the past three years, Salam Music has invited a guest curator to help shape the music program this year—we are delighted to welcome Mohamed Ben Saïd to the team for the Salam Music 2026 music program.
Guest Curator 2026: Mohamed Ben Saïd
The Tunisian cultural entrepreneur, festival director, and music curator brings over 20 years of experience in concert organization, artist management, booking, and international touring. As founder of Akacia Productions (Tunis/Paris), Mohamed works with some of the most exciting artists on the alternative Arab scene and beyond. Through his work, he has transformed places such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Dougga in Tunisia into vibrant cultural meeting places where cultural heritage, contemporary music, and new social impulses converge.
His curatorial vision focuses on empowering artists, fostering intercultural dialogue, and promoting sustainable music ecosystems — building bridges between Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Festival history from 2002 to today
The festival was founded in 2002 by Norbert Ehrlich, then managing director of Szene Wien, under the name Salam Orient. Triggered by the events surrounding 9/11, Salam Orient was conceived as a deliberate counterpoint to the generalized perceptions of the Arab world, aiming to present a nuanced and diverse picture of the cultures of Southwest Asia and North Africa. This guiding intention continues to shape the festival today.
After 15 successful and formative years, Norbert Ehrlich handed over the artistic direction to Katrin Pröll in 2017. Together with Martina Laab as advisor to the festival, she reshaped the curatorial vision and has continuously developed the program ever since.
Over the past years, the team has also grown steadily: Doris Miyung Brady has been responsible for the festival’s visual identity since 2017. Regina Fisch (TUMULTTOTAL) has overseen communication and public relations since 2022, and Stefan Wackerlig has been supporting the festival’s technical production since 2023. Both also contribute to the program planning as advisors.
Since 2023 Salam Music has hosted its own festival hub, curated and organized by Orwa Saleh, which transforms into an artistic meeting point and open space for exchange during the festival period.
Together, the dedicated team creates a ten-day international festival that brings together music, art, and culture while making social diversity visible.
