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Embrace Massó "¡Con Salsa!" International Music Festival

Boston Common, 139 Tremont St., Boston, MA

The Embrace Massó "¡Con Salsa!" International Music Festival celebrates global rhythms and Afro-Latin culture while honoring community icon José Massó III. This year we celebrate 50 years of Massó’s iconic WBUR radio show: ¡Con Salsa! This dynamic festival blends music, advocacy, and family-friendly experiences to inspire joy and social change.

Big Night Live, 110 Causeway St., Boston, MA

Embrace Honors MLK returns for its 4th year with an inspiring night of music, community, and celebration honoring the legacy of Dr. King and Coretta Scott King. Join us on January 18, 2026, as we uplift changemaking couples and immerse ourselves in music, dancing, food, and the fight for equity. This year, we are honored to unite with the historic MLK Memorial Breakfast, and the Boston Children’s Chorus MLK Concert to bring to Boston a signature series of events honoring the fight for equity.

The Embrace Ideas Festival is a multi-day celebration of arts, culture, and public scholarship that culminates in the citywide Juneteenth observance. Rooted in the spirit of freedom, the festival gathers leaders and community to reimagine a racially just Boston.

The 2026 MLK Weekend Celebration unites Boston in honoring the Kings’ enduring legacy with a powerful lineup: the MLK Memorial Breakfast, Embrace Honors MLK, and the Boston Children’s Chorus MLK Concert. Together, these signature events inspire reflection, celebration, and collective action for justice and equity.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR 2025 SIGNATURE SERIES SPONSORS

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The Embrace Ideas Festival is a yearly celebration of ideas grounded in arts, culture and public scholarship. This multi-day gathering brings together local, state and national leaders to amplify anti-racism and a vision for a transformed Boston by 2030. 

The Embrace Massó "¡Con Salsa!” International Music Festival (EMCS) is an electrifying celebration of music, culture, and social justice. EMCS embodies Embrace Boston’s commitment to social change through the universal language of community, music, and placemaking. This dynamic event showcases the rich diversity of Latin and global rhythms, melodies, and traditions, uniting performers and audiences from around the world in a spirit of harmony and solidarity.

Named in honor of community activist, leader, and icon Jose Masso III, the longtime host of WBUR’s “¡Con Salsa!,” a bilingual Afro-Latin music program that’s been on the air for nearly five decades, the festival pays tribute to his unwavering dedication to promoting cultural exchange and social justice through music. Masso, whose pioneering work has inspired generations of artists and activists, embodies the spirit of resilience, advocacy, and inclusivity that defines our festival.

At the festival's heart is our dedication to amplifying the voices of marginalized communities, particularly Black/Afro-Latin artists and musicians whose contributions have often been overlooked or undervalued, through a curated lineup of performances spanning genres from salsa. From Merengue, Bachata, and reggae to jazz and hip-hop, we celebrate Black artists' cultural resilience and creativity while honoring their profound influence on contemporary music.

During the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday, Embrace Honors MLK provides a platform to center Black joy, a narrative often overlooked in discussions of racial justice. As the world witnesses the ongoing struggles against anti-Blackness, cultural division, and political stratification, this event serves as a beacon of solidarity, celebrating the vibrancy and strength of Rev. Martin Luther King’s message of the Beloved Community.

Embrace Honors MLK (EHMLK) is an uplifting and celebratory event that pays tribute to the legacies of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King while highlighting the importance of Black joy and community resilience. Held annually on the eve of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, this evening celebration is rooted in togetherness and community. The event also aims to honor prominent community leaders who embody Martin and Coretta's spirit of civic engagement and artistic expression.

Join us as we celebrate in true Embrace Boston style. Swap your heels and dress shoes for your favorite kicks and pair them with your elegant attire.

The year 2025 marks the 60th Anniversary of the 1965 Freedom Rally. The rally took place on April 23, 1965, with over 20,000 people marching on Boston Common to protest racial imbalance in housing and schools. The march began at Carter Playground, at the corner of Columbus Ave., and ended at Boston Common. Martin Luther King led the march from Roxbury to Boston Common. As part of the Everyone 250 Initiative and other 250 celebrations, Embrace Boston, in collaboration with the City of Boston and other community partners, will recreate this historic march from Carter Playground in Roxbury to the Embrace Monument/Parkman Bandstand.

The Arts & Culture Summit in Boston is a pioneering gathering that unites leaders, funders, and advocates from diverse industries to develop sustainable cultural solutions. Initially launching with the Everyone250 initiative, which promotes equitable celebrations of America's 250th anniversary, the summit has expanded its focus to address equity, justice, and racial reconciliation post-pandemic and following the murder of George Floyd. It serves as a crucial platform for fostering meaningful discussions and forging partnerships that advance these goals within the arts and culture sector.

Embrace's Signature Series