Charis McGowan hears how an ancient song survived centuries to become a Mallorcan Xmas tradition, and a core influence to Júlia Colom’s Balearic folk
Our favourite Africa albums of the year, featuring Amadou & Mariam, Cheikh Lô, Salif Keita, Trio Da Kali, and MC Yallah & Debmaster
The Best Asia & Pacific albums of 2025, as chosen by our writers and editors. Featuring Anoushka Shankar, Park Jiha, Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwali, Ichiko Aoba and Hand to Earth
The best albums from Europe in 2025: Adrian Raso & Fanfare Ciocărlia, Duo Ruut, Raphael Rogiński & Ružičnjak Tajni, Sílvia Pérez Cruz & Salvador Sobral and Söndörgő
The best UK & Irish Folk albums of the year, featuring Martin Carthy, Cerys Hafana, Spafford Campbell, Gigspanner Big Band, Gwenifer Raymond
Five of the best Latin & Caribbean albums released in 2025, featuring Caetano Veloso & Maria Bethânia, Frente Cumbiero, Natalia Lafourcade, Bejuco and Azymuth
The best albums from the US & Canada this year, featuring Alison Krauss & Union Station, Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’, Parchman Prison Prayer, Peggy Seeger and Sam Amidon
Our favourite albums from the Middle East in 2025, from Yasmine Hamdan, SANAM, Nadah El Shazly, Maurice Louca, Farah Kaddour & Marwan Tohme
The best global fusion albums of the year, featuring AMMAR 808, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis & Karine Polwart, Africa Express, Piers Faccini & Ballaké Sissoko, and Abel Selaocoe
Our favourite compilations of the year, featuring releases on Valcour Records, Shamus Records, Africa Seven, Analog Africa and Strut Records
The best global reissues of the year, from Toumani Diabaté, The Lijadu Sisters, Joan Baez, Frazey Ford and Paul Brady
Our favourite debut albums this year include Wayku, L’Antidote, Merlyn Driver, Muslim Shaggan, Shiran & Bakal
The winner of this year’s World Pioneer award is Peggy Seeger. An American singer and musician who calls England her home, Seeger has been a seismic figure in folk music for seven decades. In a year that included her final album and final tour, Robin Denselow celebrates a revelatory career and speaks to the family members who have been at her side throughout
Kwanele Sosibo picks ten albums showing how the Southern African style has evolved from working-class folk songs to expressing a fugitive urban masculinity
Profiling six stand-out Québécois groups who will be appearing at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections in January 2026
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