After a fallow year in 2025, the WOMAD music festival made a winning UK return this weekend at its new home of Neston Park in Wiltshire.
The 2026 edition welcomed 460 performers from 38 countries, attracting a reported 40,000 punters to the fields and sunflower meadows of England's West Country for four days of live music, creative workshops, talks and global cuisine.
WOMAD's return sees it reestablished alongside Camp Bestival and Green Man as one of Britain's most family friendly music festivals, with a multi-generational appeal evident evident in the crowds and on the stage. Highlights for us included watching the 83-year-old Aboriginal singer Kankawa Nagarra's desert blues, our children joining an African djembe drumming workshop and the mass morning laughter yoga events.
WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance Festival) was founded by former Genesis frontman Peter Gabriel and first held in Somerset in 1982 but, after a couple of unprofitable years in 2023 and 2024 at nearby Malmesbury, took stock in 2025 and returned for its new chapter in 2026.
Tickets for 2027's edition go on sale on Friday 31 July.
For the first time, the main stage was powered by renewable energy. Credit: MIKE MASSAROThe food and music workshops, including the one seen here by Malian singer Rokia Koné, at Taste the World were a big hit. Credit: Ryley MortonThe Garifuna Collective from Belize were a huge hit on the World Stage. CREDIT: Garry Jones PhotographyJapan's Seppuku Pistols delivered a raucous Sunday evening set – one member broke an ankle but carried on dancing. CREDIT: Garry Jones PhotographyGanavya performs her traditional Indian melodies. Credit: Garry Jones PhotographyGhana's K.O.G brought his fusion of Afro-future, funk and rap to the Big Top on Thursday evening for a rousing start to the festival before entertaining (and cooking) at Taste the World. Credit: Garry Jones PhotographyMalian singer Fatoumata Diawara headlined Thursday night's World Stage. Credit: Ryley MortonReggae legend Barrington Levy on the World Stage. Credit: Garry Jones PhotographyThe Sunday parade around Neston Park. Credit: Ryley MortonThe children's area was packed from dawn to dusk. Credit: Garry Jones PhotographyCongolese groove pioneers Jupiter & Okwess brought the sounds of Kinshasa to the fields of Wiltshire. Credit: Garry Jones PhotographyThe sunflower meadows of Neston Park. Credit: Karen EatockSaturday's laughter yoga workshop in full swing. Credit: Garry Jones Photography
