ABOUT US
World Folk Festival is the world’s largest live Punjabi folk dances and music competition.
World Folk Festival is presented by International Punjabi Folk Arts Society (IPFA) which is an international organization committed to promoting and preserving Punjabi folk arts, culture and tradition on a global scale. IPFA’s founding committee members are located around the world in India, Canada, USA, UK, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, and more. Members of IPFA are Bhangra dancers, coaches, and professionals who come with years of knowledge and experience in Bhangra and Punjabi culture.
IPFA is hosting the return of the annual World Folk Festival 2026, showcasing some of the best Punjabi folk music and dance talent in the world. The event World Folk Festival will take place on October 10 and 11, 2026 at the Bell Performing Arts Centre in Surrey, BC.
World Folk Festival is a unique, first of its kind type of event that showcases different aspects of Punjabi folk arts like youth and adult Bhangra and Gidha competitions, Punjabi singing competitions, Punjabi orchestra, and other traditional Punjabi folk dances competitions.
World Folk Festival’s mission is to fortify and foster Punjabi identity in the community and provide a platform for performers to showcase their talent in a way that has never been offered before in North America. World Folk Festival has a global reach and had over 100 teams and over 1000 participants who travelled from around the world to participate in over 30 unique folk dances and music categories. Following in the steps of World Folk Festival, many other organizations and competitions across North America have introduced folk dance categories and age brackets that did not exist before World Folk Festival. The emergence in these new categories and age brackets are a testament to IPFA and World Folk Festival’s mission to promote Punjabi folk arts, music, and dance for generations to come.
RECAP OF OUR IMPACT
-
30+ Categories
Our team’s goal is to provide new and exciting opportunities for the community to further promote Punjabi folk arts.
In 2023, we introduced over 20 categories such as Bhangra and Gidha, and new categories to North America such as: Luddi, Jhoomer, Jindua, Malwai Gidha, Folk Songs, and Folk Orchestra in both Senior and Junior categories to give everyone – regardless of age – a chance to participate.
In 2024, we introduced two new categories: Bhangra (Live) Seniors - Girls Only, and Bhangra Super Juniors (Age 12 & under).
Many of the categories World Folk Festival introduces to the western hemisphere have never been offered at a competitive level outside of India before. We changed that.
-
150+ Teams
We are proud to have hosted over 150 teams from around the world to participate at World Folk Festival since its inception.
We had teams from India, New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, Ireland, USA, and Canada – many of whom travelled to Vancouver, Canada for this incredible one-of-a-kind opportunity.
-
1500+ Participants
Over 1500 participants have taken the stage at World Folk Festival since 2023. With many of our categories being Juniors under the age of 17, we welcomed many parents and supporters who travelled alongside their teams to help make this event a tremendous success. We truly appreciate all the long hours, dedication, and sacrifice of each and every one who has participated at World Folk Festival.
