【2026】The State of World Music Now: Introducing Masterpieces to Enjoy Diverse Musical Cultures
World music lets you enjoy truly global sounds that carry traditional music from around the world—especially from non-English-speaking regions—into the present.
Its appeal lies in a universal expressive power that resonates across different cultures and languages.
In recent years, songs incorporating African rhythms, Arabian flavors, and Latin music have become worldwide hits, and its diversity keeps expanding, even into experimental works that combine traditional instruments with electronic sounds.
In this article, we’ll broadly introduce smash hits and highly acclaimed popular tracks that capture the current moment of world music.
We also feature traditional world music in the latter half, so be sure to check it out.
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[2026] World Music Now: Introducing masterpieces (31–40) that let you enjoy diverse musical cultures
OverdoneBombay Bicycle Club
Bombay Bicycle Club is a four-piece band from the UK that began activity in 2005.
“Overdone” is included on their 2014 album “So Long, See You Tomorrow,” which reached number one on the UK charts.
RaanjhanMIDIval Punditz
MIDIval Punditz is an Indian duo formed in 1998 by Gaurav Raina and Tapan Raj.
“Raanjhan” is a track included on their album “MIDIval Times,” released in 2005.
Orik GullagandaSevara Nazarxon
Sevara Nazarkhan is a singer-songwriter from Andijan who began her solo career in 2000.
“Orik Gullaganda” is a track included on her album “Yol Bolsin,” released in 2003.
MatsuriYoshida Kiyoshi
Kiyoshi Yoshida is a synthesizer player and composer from Yokohama.
He has worked on music for various films and TV programs, and is especially known for The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.
Matsuri is included on the 1999 album Uchi: Asian Drums.
Water LilyJiǎ Péngfāng
Jia Pengfang is an erhu player from Heilongjiang Province who has also worked on film music such as Princess Mononoke and House of Flying Daggers.
“A Water Lily” is a track from his 2002 album Erhu.
[2026] The State of World Music Today: Introducing Masterpieces to Enjoy Diverse Musical Cultures (41–50)
Cape Chikyuu (Cape Earth)tōn
Toh-TONE-ON is a unit formed by Mihoko Ono, Ryoichi Soyama, and Yukihiko Mitsuzuka in 1988.
They are particularly well known in Hokkaido.
“Chikyu Misaki” (Cape Earth) is included on the album “The Music of Earth,” released in 1991.
Comme à la radioBrigitte Fontaine
Brigitte Fontaine is a singer from Morlaix.
Comme à la radio is the title track of an album released in 1969, and it has been given the Japanese title “Radio no yō ni” (Like on the Radio).
In 2003, it was used as the ending theme for the film Like Asura.