Originally scheduled for September, the Palestine Music Expo organisers have now announced an unfortunate cancellation of the event. The news follows the recent Israeli attack on Gaza and is coupled with the current political atmosphere and pressure on the West Bank’s creatives and culture.

PMX2022 organisers released a statement regarding the reasons behind the event cancellation, sharing, “The instability brought upon us by the occupation in recent days, coupled with numerous cultural and music event cancellations following attacks or threats to artists and venues in the West Bank, have put us in a very difficult situation, just one month before our anticipated Expo – and after three years of a forced break due to Covid-19 limitations.”

The most recent PMX event took place in April of 2019 and has been a key player in uplifting Palestinian music culture. Since its launch in 2017, the music expo has led dozens of Palestinian artists to international record deals and brought in industry creatives from around the globe to experience the arts and culture of the West Bank.

Set to take place in Ramallah this September at the Qattan Foundation, PMX anticipated appearances from music industry delegates from continents around the world, further confirming its status as an innovative and well-respected modern music festival.

“It is tragic for us and for the music world that this festival is being cancelled due to a lack of cooperation from official authorities and the systematic oppression of artists,” organisers stated.

Following news of the cancellation, PMX organisers ended the statement by enforcing hopes for, “an open and public dialogue between cultural agents in Palestine and official authorities, so that we can once again all be united in our struggle to keep the rich Palestinian culture alive and internationally known.

“We wish for a free Palestine, free from occupation and its beneficiaries and free from the persecution of authentic artistry and expression, with a safe and creative space for ALL.”

Read about the festival which provides Palestinian musicians a platform to share their voice here. You can read the full press release statement regarding the event’s cancellation online.