Experience the world’s food, music and culture at WMU’s International Bazaar
Kalamazoo, Mich. — The Haenicke Institute for Global Education announces International Bazaar 2026, hosted by the International Student Council. Join us April 4 for an evening of food, culture and celebration from around the world.
All are invited to this community event, scheduled for 4 to 9 p.m. in the WMU Student Center. Admission is free, and food and drink tickets can be purchased at the door.
More than 1,000 international students attend WMU, representing 95 countries across the globe. From the Indian Student Association to the Professional Asian Pilots Association, members of some 20 different cultural and academic student organizations help plan the global festivities.
Students prepare dishes from their home countries, perform cultural dances and host interactive booths and activities. Local groups and businesses also join the celebration. There will be freshly prepared food, live music, handcrafted goods and traditional attire.
“The International Bazaar is not just a celebration of cultures and traditions. I believe it is also a celebration of the diverse community of students that we have here at Western,” says Nayab Tufail, a undergraduate engineering major from Pakistan and president of the International Student Council.
“So many of our international students have flown in from countries that are thousands of miles away, and the International Bazaar creates a space where they can share their heritage, stories and traditions with pride.”
The International Bazaar is important not only to Western Michigan University but also to the greater Kalamazoo community, adds Dr. Vanessa Hills, faculty in the College of Education and Human Development and a staff advisor to the International Student Council.
“It’s a showcase of the incredible and diverse cultures that call WMU’s campus home. Where else can you watch a dance performance from one country, listen to singers from another, visit booths run by cultural student organizations, and cap it all off with delicious food from around the world?
“It’s an event that brings together many of the international folks living in Kalamazoo and gives you a window into their culture, food and language for a day.”
Students spend months preparing for the Bazaar, says Tufail, who will graduate this year. The event is a campus-wide effort supported by the Haenicke Institute for Global Education, the Western Student Association, the Campus Activities Board and others.
“It is a special moment when you look around and see students, faculty, families and community members all engaging with one another—that shared joy and sense of belonging is what makes the Bazaar so meaningful.”
International Student Council is a student‑led organization dedicated to representing and supporting international student groups across campus. The group works to foster a sense of belonging, create leadership development opportunities, and enhance cross‑cultural engagement through events, collaborations and student activities.
“ISC to me is home—and you nurture your home with everything nice and pretty,” says Tufail. “That’s why we focus on supporting every aspect of an international student’s experience and continuously work to create programs that strengthen engagement and belonging.”
Groups like the International Student Council are major drivers of internationalization at Western Michigan University, says Hills. “To be a global campus, we need global students. The students of ISC are what make global engagement possible at WMU.”
About the Haenicke Institute for Global Education
The Diether H. Haenicke Institute for Global Education, established in 1998, fosters an environment that supports the global engagement of the Western community. Its offices assist nearly 2,000 international students and alumni at home and abroad with admissions, immigration, student success and post-graduation job training.
The institute also facilitates short- and long-term study abroad programs for students, faculty and staff. It hosts a variety of global learning activities, such as designing and promoting scholarship and academic opportunities on campus; providing K-12 outreach; hosting lectures, panels and events; and showcasing arts, entertainment and culture from around the world. Learn more about the Haenicke Institute for Global Education.
For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.