Peter Gabriel: “WOMAD will not be there in 2025, it will be back in 2026”

Peter Gabriel announced that WOMAD, the festival he promoted, will take a break next year, to return to a new location in 2026. WOMAD stands for World of Music, Arts and Dance and was created by the former Genesis in 1980 with the aim of giving visibility to a whole mix of musical genres. Since then, the festival has visited 27 countries around the world and the main event, in Great Britain, has taken place at Charlton Park in Wiltshire since 2007. This year was the 42nd edition and will be the last in Charlton Park.

In a statement,

Peter Gabriel said that after 17 years in Wiltshire WOMAD is moving to a new home not far from its current location, “To ensure that the festival can continue to thrive in our new home for years to come we have decided to take a year off in 2025 before returning with renewed energy in 2026.”

Gabriel then went on to explain: “WOMAD, like many festivals and events, has faced some post-COVID challenges and we are now engaged in the process of re-evaluating, regenerating and reinvigorating everything we do and where we want to go in the future. We are pleased to say that we will be announcing our new plans in the coming weeks.”

The English musician said that numerous WOMAD festivals around the world, including WOMADelaide, WOMAD New Zealand and WOMAD Cáceres, will take place again next year, with plans also for further events in Las Palmas, Brazil and Chile. He revealed that it will be held a “special UK event next year to offer a taste of the unique WOMAD experience”, to be announced next week.

In closing he wanted to thank those who have hosted WOMAD all these years: “We want to send a huge “Thank You” to all the brilliant staff at Charlton Park who have made us feel welcome over the last 17 years, getting us out of many difficult situations ( literally, on those rainy weekends!). We couldn’t have done what we did without you. Thanks also to the fabulous community of Malmesbury, Charlton and all the surrounding villages as we have created a few days of hardship every year. You have always responded positively and embraced WOMAD, welcoming us into your community and working with us in many ways. Finally, thanks go to all the festival goers, artists, crew, contractors, volunteers and traders who make WOMAD possible, a treasure in the festival calendar and a vital contribution to bringing together communities around the world to celebrate diversity and tolerance through music, art, dance and culture. We look forward to welcoming you to our new site in 2026.”