Meet the winners of the 2025 Music Cities Awards!

Music Cities Awards 2025: Celebrating global winners using music to transform cities and lives.

The Music Cities Awards proudly announce the winners of the 2025 edition, recognizing outstanding initiatives that use music to drive economic, social, and cultural development around the world.

Presented annually since 2020 by Sound Diplomacy Events & Education during the Music Cities Convention, the Awards shine a spotlight on the individuals, organisations, and cities redefining the role of music in building stronger communities.

This year’s winners form a living database of music advocacy and inspiration. They represent a wide spectrum of projects spanning continents, genres, and approaches—but they all share one vision: harnessing the power of music to improve lives and transform places.

The Awards Ceremony took place on the opening night of the Fayetteville, Arkansas Music Cities Convention, marking the 10th Anniversary of this global conference series.

Looking ahead, the Music Cities Convention will continue expanding conversations about the transformational power of music for cities worldwide, with next year’s gatherings scheduled in Hull, UK (June 2026) and Alberta, Canada (October 2026).

2025 Music Cities Awards Winners

#1 Best Global Music City: 

City of Music Leipzig (Germany), project presented by City of Leipzig, Department of Culture And Arts: Celebrated for how the city blends rich musical heritage, Bach festivals, and vibrant nightlife, uniting culture, courage, and innovation as a global music city.

#2 Best Initiative to Support Diversity & Inclusion in Music:

Fundación Music for All (Spain) – Championing access to music education and opportunities for underserved communities.

#3 Best Initiative to Support Music Education & Career Development:

United World Shine (Nepal) – Leveraging music education to empower, uplift, and transform lives of communities and young people across the continent.

#4 Best Music Tourism Initiative:

Queensland Music Festival (Australia) – QLD Music Trails generates social, cultural, and economic impact by uniting live music, storytelling, and place-based experiences into a powerful celebration of identity, connection, and regional pride.

#5 Best Initiative Using Music to Improve Health & Wellbeing:

Playing For Change Foundation (Guatemala) – Collaborates with local partners to provide music, dance, and glee programs for youth in neighborhoods severely affected by gang violence and high homicide rates.

#6 Best Initiative Using Music to Support Environmental Sustainability

Joudour Sahara (Morocco) – Protecting and revitalising traditional Saharan music whilst creating opportunities for youth.

#7 Best Initiative Using Music for Economic Social or Community Development in Cities Presented by Come Hear NC (North Carolina Department of Cultural and Natural Resources)

Fábrica de Arte Cubano (Cuba) – A vibrant cultural hub housed in a converted oil factory. It serves as a creative laboratory, showcasing contemporary art with a strong social and community focus.

#8 Best Night-Time Economy Initiative

Monte Olimpa (Colombia) – A community-driven initiative in Cali supporting women and LGBTQ+ individuals in music and nightlife.

#9 Best Use of Music in Real Estate or City Planning

Jazzy Business Consulting (Japan) – A leading force in AI-driven transformation, helping organisations infuse culture into business, curating live music at events and launching platforms like JAZZTOMO♪.

#10 Best Organisation or Individual Supporting Music in Their City Presented by Levitt Foundation

Red Dirt Relief Fund (USA) – A Tulsa-based nonprofit providing support to Oklahoma music professionals. It has awarded over $1 million in grants to more than 800 recipients across 39 counties, including $305,000 in COVID relief.

#11 Best Digital Innovation to Support Musicians or Music in Cities

Fever (Global) – Revolutionising live entertainment with immersive experiences. Candlelight democratises access to classical music, reaching 7 million people in 300+ cities.

The 2025 Music Cities Awards remind us that music is far more than performance—it is a catalyst for cultural pride, social resilience, and economic opportunity. This year’s winners demonstrate how, from grassroots initiatives to global platforms, music can preserve heritage, spark innovation, and bring people together in meaningful ways. Their work shows that when communities embrace music as a tool for development, they not only celebrate creativity but also build stronger, more connected, and more sustainable futures.