The Festival Continues: The iconic WOMAD Festival will take a break in 2025 before relocating to a new Wiltshire venue in 2026, founder Peter Gabriel announced today. NME reports the world music celebration, which has called Charlton Park home since 2007, plans to use the hiatus to “re-evaluate, regenerate and reinvigorate” the festival experience.
Post-COVID Challenges Drive Change: After facing significant challenges in the post-pandemic landscape, WOMAD joins other major festivals in reassessing its future. “Like many festivals post-COVID, we’ve had some big challenges,” Gabriel explains, emphasizing the need for strategic planning to ensure long-term sustainability.
- The new location remains in the Wiltshire region
- Special UK event planned for 2025
Global Impact Continues: While the UK flagship festival takes a break, international WOMAD events in Australia, New Zealand, and Spain will proceed as scheduled. The festival’s global reach spans 27 countries and has hosted over 250 events since its 1982 inception.
Community Legacy Endures: Swindonadvertiser reports that the move marks the end of a successful 17-year residency at Charlton Park, where the festival regularly attracted up to 40,000 attendees. Gabriel expressed gratitude to the local community and Charlton Park staff for their longstanding support.
Future Vision Takes Shape: Organizers promise to reveal detailed plans for both the 2025 special event and the new festival location in the coming weeks, maintaining WOMAD’s commitment to celebrating world music and cultural diversity.
