World of Percussion Re-Imagined - Free Event at Bryant Park
40th Anniversary Legacy Series
Friday, June 12, 2026 – Co-Presented with Bryant Park
7 PM – 9 PM – Outdoors, general admission
Bryant Park Picnic Performance Presented by Bank of America
The World of Percussion series was created in 1989 by WMI Founder Robert Browning to celebrate rhythms from around the globe featuring luminaries including Zakir Hussain, Don Cherry, Shankar, Foday Musa Suso, and Adam Rudolph. The series ended in 2009, having presented artists from Brazil, Cuba, Gambia, India, Japan, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, and Uzbekistan. In our 40th year, we’re reimagining the series with some of today’s most sought after percussionists, including Pedrito Martinez, Cyro Baptista, Kaoru Watanabe, Suphala, Sunny Jain, Glen Velez, Batalá and WoP veteran Adam Rudolph.
The 40TH ANNIVERSARY LEGACY series features artists who have played an integral role in the 40-year history of World Music Institute, have been frequently presented by WMI throughout the years, and have significantly contributed to the organization’s standing in New York’s cultural landscape.
About Bryant Park Picnic Performances:
Bryant Park Picnic Performances presented by Bank of America is a free outdoor festival that welcomes all New Yorkers to experience the city’s vibrant arts and culture. The series provides a platform for extraordinary artists and serves as a vital outdoor venue for a wide array of New York’s cultural institutions.