What happens to the live music business during Ramadan?
IQ learns about different approaches for keeping the industry running in Muslim-majority countries during the holy month for Muslims
News By Eamonn Forde | 24 February 2026
With Ramadan, one of the holiest times for Muslims around the world, underway, IQ speaks to some of the industry players in Muslim-majority countries working to keep the business running.
The Ramadan period, which this year runs from 18 February to 19 March, is characterised by communal prayer as well as fasting between dawn and dusk, with suhoor being the meal eaten before dawn and iftar being the fast-breaking evening meal each day during Ramadan. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan itself.
Because of Ramadan’s focus on family, community, and reflection, certain activities like live music are reduced or put on pause, depending on the country and Muslim communities. The guidelines in different Muslim-majority countries are not uniform, but they all work within particular parameters with…
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