International Gipsy Festival

The International Gipsy Festival is a Tilburg festival focused on the art and culture of the Roma and Sinti communities. The first International Gipsy Festival took place in 1997 at various locations in Tilburg. Since 2003, the festival has moved to the Interpolis garden. The Gipsy Festival is known for its efforts to break new ground. Each year, it offers a variety of musical surprises and unusual combinations. The Gipsy genre is widely interpreted. It is the flagship that incorporates a large number of subgenres, such as Balkan, flamenco, klezmer, Gipsy swing, jazz; but also hip-hop, brass band, and folk are common musical styles at the Gipsy Festival. Musical groups and dancers from Europe, Russia, and India have graced the stage in the past. Invariably, a varied ensemble is invited over to Tilburg.

The intention of the International Gipsy Festival is to bring as many aspects of Gipsy culture to the attention of a wide audience. The Gipsy Festival serves as an international platform where attention is requested for the influence of the Gipsies on our present society. Therefore, the festival aims to investigate, encourage, and present this influence on festival days, to serve as a source of inspiration for musicians, dramatists, artists, photographers, and cinematographers. In addition, it wants children and adolescents to come into contact with this culture by offering educational programs.