Park Sang - Yong Yung Dance Troupe (South Korea)

From June 13th to 18th, the romantic stage by the Perfume River will become the meeting point for artists from France, Spain, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam. What's noteworthy isn't the list of international artists or the names currently popular with young people, but rather the way Hue has chosen to change the spirit of the festival.

Mr. Hoang Viet Trung, Director of the Hue Imperial City Relics Conservation Center and Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Hue Festival 2026 Organizing Committee, said that this year's program is more community-oriented, placing the audience at the center of the cultural experience.

“The open space along the Perfume River will create a more intimate, colorful, and interactive atmosphere. We want the public to come and watch the performances, and at the same time truly immerse themselves in the festival atmosphere,” Mr. Trung said.

From rituals to " musical feasts"

For many years, the Hue Festival has been associated with traditional programs, staged inside the Imperial Citadel or Ngo Mon Square, with a strong emphasis on ritual. This creates a unique identity but also sometimes makes the festival lack freshness for younger audiences.

Mr. Trung acknowledged that if the "artistic feast" were to repeat itself every year, the feeling of familiarity could easily lead to audience disappointment. Therefore, Hue Festival 2026 chose a different approach: bringing music closer to the community.

The free-to-use open-air stage by the Perfume River is considered a key experiment for this year's festival. With no tickets sold and no restrictions on the viewing space, the public can come anytime to mingle with the crowds along the riverbank, listen to music, stroll around, and experience the vibrant nightlife of Hue.

"Importantly, besides the artistic program, is the festive atmosphere, the spirit of the city, and the visitor experience," Mr. Trung shared.

That's also why the Hue International Music Week 2026 is designed with diverse colors. From the fiery flamenco of Las Migas – a band that has won two Latin Grammys – to the French indie pop melodies of the duo Ojos or modern K-pop from South Korea, all create a multifaceted "playlist" for this year's festival.

Las Migas is a highlight worth anticipating. The Mediterranean guitar sounds combined with the passionate and captivating music of the Spanish band promise to liven up the festival atmosphere.

Japanese singer Kawanishi Natsuki will bring a gentle melody with her piano-accompanied ballads that have gone viral on TikTok and other Asian social media platforms.

Younger audiences will also encounter more familiar names like My Anh, Matthew Ifield, and especially singer MONO. On one side is R&B and soul with a modern Vietnamese spirit; on the other side are the emotionally rich pop songs of the international Gen Z generation.

According to the organizers, this year's selection of artists is no longer solely focused on "meeting the required criteria" as before, but prioritizes artistic merit, stage presence, and the ability to connect with the public.

"No matter what, the art must be good, the sound and lighting must be excellent, and the artists must be charismatic. If the festival wants to be younger, it must have faces that can energize the audience," Mr. Trung affirmed.

The desire to "connect" with young people.

Despite significant innovations, the Hue Festival 2026 will still remain centered around the cultural heritage of the ancient capital of Hue.

Besides international artists, the program features the Hue Royal Traditional Arts Theatre, traditional Korean art troupes, and a Trinh Cong Son music night with performances by Cam Van, Duc Tuan, Vo Ha Tram, Quoc Thien, Bui Lan Huong, saxophone artist Tran Manh Tuan, and others…

The difference is that heritage no longer stands alone in a formal setting but is placed alongside hip-hop, K-pop, indie pop, or R&B within the same festival landscape.

The performances begin at 8 PM each day. The opening night on June 13th will feature Kawanishi Natsuki, the K-Culture Friends in Chungnam group, and the Hue Royal Court Traditional Arts Theatre. Meanwhile, the closing night on June 18th is expected to be a "spectacular" event with the participation of singer Nguyen Dinh Tuan Dung and especially singer MONO - a name that is currently attracting a lot of young audiences - along with a series of youthful and vibrant performances.

At a recent press conference announcing the Hue International Music Week 2026 (on the afternoon of May 25th), the Vice Chairman of the Hue City People's Committee and Head of the Hue Festival 2026 Organizing Committee, Tran Huu Thuy Giang, informed that the majority of the program's funding this year will be sourced through social contributions. This will allow the festival to be more flexible in its organization and reduce budgetary pressure.

According to Mr. Tran Huu Thuy Giang, singer MONO agreed to perform out of affection for Hue and did not accept any fee.

That detail partly reveals the unique appeal of this year's Hue Festival along the Perfume River.

Text and photos: Lien Minh

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/am-nhac-ke-chuyen-moi-ben-song-huong-166334.html