62 Years Working for the Music of Our City and Department

The Popayan Music Festival was born in 1964, marking the realization of the dream of a group of young lovers of cultured music, now called «academic» music. Since that date, 62 editions of the event have been held. Throughout its long history, the festival has brought together more than 4,000 soloists, ensembles, orchestras, and choirs from 32 countries across five continents, all of the highest level. We have organized nearly 850 concerts, offering the public a rich selection of the world’s musical literature, including national and world premieres of important musical works.

The festival has taken academic music—both from the universal repertoire and national composers—to churches, parks, coliseums, cultural centers, and theaters, always striving to create spaces where audiences of all kinds can enjoy live performances of this music. Its democratization policy ensures that at least 90% of the programmed activities remain free of charge every year.

As part of our commitment to strengthening musical activity, we have supported the creation of the Santander de Quilichao International Classical Music Festival, as well as events related to other musical genres, such as FestiJazz Popayán, which will celebrate its seventh edition in 2025, or the Semana Sinfónica (Symphonic Week), established in 2024. Additionally, in 2025, the Youth Orchestra of Cauca will be launched, providing an orchestral practice space for young musicians in the department while serving as a countermeasure against the violence affecting southwestern Colombia.

In celebration of its 40th anniversary, the Popayán Religious Music Festival was recognized by UNESCO as an event of global interest. On that occasion, Colombia’s Ministry of Communication and the National Postal Administration issued a commemorative stamp titled «Partitura de Hermandad» (Score of Brotherhood), a phrase that has since become the festival’s slogan.

In 2003, through Decree No. 68, the Municipal Government declared the Festival Intangible Cultural Heritage of the City, awarding it the Grand Cross of Gold of the Shield of the Very Noble and Very Loyal City of Popayán, the highest heraldic distinction. In 2004, the festival was declared National Cultural Heritage through Law 891. In 2013, the Popayán Religious Music Festival became the only event of its kind in the Americas to reach 50 uninterrupted editions. To commemorate this milestone, the Ministry of Culture awarded it its highest distinction: the Grand Order of the Ministry of Culture.

After 62 consecutive years, the festival’s name has become a top-tier cultural reference, earning it both national and international prestige.