The voice that defined bhangra and carried it from Punjabi wedding halls to global stages.
Malkit Singh is one of the most influential figures of his genre; since the 1980s, he has been blending traditional Punjabi music with rap, house and dance electronics, bringing the sound of bhangra to major stages around the world.
“Taking Punjabi music culture and gospel to realms yet unknown.” (World Music Central)
He holds the Guinness World Record as the best-selling bhangra artist, and his music also appeared in the cult film Bend It Like Beckham. Known as “the man with the golden voice”, Malkit combines power, clarity and an unmistakable ability to win over any audience. In 2008, he received an MBE from Queen Elizabeth II for his contribution to music and culture.
“The vocal style involved requires an immense quality of tone and a high level of control; Malkit Singh has both of these in spades – he possesses a superb voice that draws you in with its genuine warmth.” (BBC)
Malkit Singh has performed in over 70 countries, taking the stage at London’s Royal Festival Hall, New York’s Lincoln Center, WOMAD and SummerStage. His single Kali Ainak has surpassed 45 million views, proving that his style remains as compelling as ever. In 2025, he was selected as an official showcase artist at WOMEX, where his performance became one of the highlights of the event. We are delighted that, as a result of this, he will embark on a European tour in 2026 — with Colours being one of the first shows to be announced.
His appearance at the festival is presented in collaboration with Asian Arts Agency.