Uttar Pradesh music and dance tradition is one of the richest musical traditions in India. Uttar Pradesh is truly the veritable cultural capital of Northern India. Its old cities and the quaint villages are treasure houses for music and dance of unsurpassed charm. Both the classical and folk forms of Indian music and dance, feature prominently in Uttar Pradesh music and dance traditions.

Indian classical music and dance have made Uttar Pradesh their veritable base over the years. Varanasi, Lucknow, Agra and Rampur have been seats of great tradition in the world of India's classical music, which is the heart of Uttar Pradesh music and dance. Both vocal and instrumental music feature prominently in the music and dance of Uttar Pradesh.

Folk traditions form an important part of Uttar Pradesh music and dance. The folk forms of Uttar Pradesh are extremely refined musical expressions and are often semi-classical in nature which demand a great degree of skill for proper elucidation. Eastern Uttar Pradesh's music includes thumris, kajris and birhas - all signifying various moods and seasons. If Awadh is proud of its heritage of Ghazals, then Qauwwalis grace the musical tradition of Ajmer. From Rasiya to Marsiya, from Horis to Chaitis, the folk music of Uttar Pradesh are some of the greatest treasures in the world of music.

There are many folk and classical dance traditions that are widely practiced and perfected in Uttar Pradesh. If Kathak is the most notable classical dance of Uttar Pradesh, then Charkula of Braj has to be the most attractive folk dance of Uttar Pradesh.