In its 7th season of presenting over a hundred of the highest-caliber World musicians, the Festival promotes cultural understanding and awareness, celebrate humankind's differences, and transcend cultural boundaries through the universal language of music.

Every year, musicians from around the world arrive to the Central Coast for a cultural exploration of innovative blends of contemporary and traditional rhythms. Additionally, the Festival Educational Outreach Program presents global musicians through the Professional Artists in the Schools Program in Monterey County public schools, K-12 and colleges.

The 2003 Monterey World Music Festival musicians are Axiom of Choice (Persian Émigré Fusion), Davka (Jewish Diaspora Fusion), Dervish (Irish), Hassan Hakmoun (Moroccan Gnawa Trance Music), Mamadou Diabate Ensemble (Jeli music of Mali), Sambadá (Brazilian), Solas (Celtic Fusion) and Stellamara (Bulgarian, Medieval, Middle Eastern).

The Cultural Council for Monterey County (CCMC) sponsors the Monterey World Music Festival, one of the few American festivals devoted to World Music, as an innovative and progressive program for multiculturalism in the local, national and international community. The Cultural Council for Monterey County is a private, non-profit arts organization and the official arts agency for Monterey County. The mission of the CCMC is "to promote education, appreciation and excellence of the arts and culture for Monterey County."

Inspired with the idea to spread cultural understanding, the festival is a musical celebration of world culture. David Cloutier, founder and director of the festival explains that he first envisioned the Festival in 1991 when rioting had broken out in Los Angeles. The Cultural Council for Monterey County and Cloutier answered the challenge of cultural violence by bringing forward the Festival message of unity as ONE people.

Festival Artists have included: Abed Azrie, Alessandra Belloni, Ali Khan Band, Alpha Yaya Diallo, Altramar Medieval Music Ensemble, Amandla Poets, Ancient Future, Anouar Brahem Trio, Barry & Holly Tashian, Cachagua Playboys, CJ Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band, Conjunto Céspedes, Cheb I Sabbah, Correo Aereo, Dresden, Erica Wheeler, Ethan James, Eth-noh-tec, Fantcha, Forward Kwenda & Erica Azim, Fourth World featuring Flora Purim, Airto & Jose Neto, Ghazal, Hafez Modirzadeh & Chromodal Consort, G.S. Sachdev with Swapan Chaudhuri, Garmarna, Hedningarna, Hamza El-Din, Hassan Hakmoun, Haunted by Waters, Heather Secord, Irene Farrera Trio, Irina Mikhailova and D’yara, Jai Uttal & the Pagan Love Orchestra, Javier Sanchez, Kate Price Band, Kenny Stahl’s Latin Jazz Ensemble, Khac-Chi Ensemble, Kiran Ahluwalia, Kitka, Klezmatics, Latif Bolat Ensemble, Laura Love Band, Laura Simms, Laurel MacDonald, Lark Simmons, Lila Downs, Lo’ Jo, Los Lobos, Mara Freeman, Mari Boine Band, Martin Simpson’s Band of Angels, Mary McCaslin, Nigunim Trio, Michael Masley, Natalie MacMaster, Queen Ida Zydeco Band, Ray Price, Ricardo Lemvo & Making Loca, Robert Tree Cody, San Francisco Taiko Dojo, Samite of Uganda, Savina Yannatou, Sean Folsom, Sharon Shannon, Sha Sha Higby, Steve Seskin, Steve Young, Sultan Khan & Rob Wasserman, Shujaat KhanTama, Steeleye Span, Sukay, Tarika, Tony Bird, Urna & Ensemble, Väsen, Victor Zaballa, West African Highlife Band, Wimme, Worlds Collide, Yungchen Lhamo, Yuri Yunakov Ensemble, Zakir Hussain & the Rhythm Experience and Zuleikha.