The World of Music, Arts and Dance Festival (WOMAD), which draws around 40,000 visitors annually, has announced a significant change: the event will take a break in 2025 and return at a new location in 2026.
WOMAD, co-founded by Peter Gabriel, has been a staple at Charlton Park near Malmesbury, Wiltshire, since 2007.
Festival director Chris Smith revealed that while they are exploring nearby options, a new site has not been finalized.
“It’s home for many of us,” Smith noted, hinting that the new venue would ideally remain close to Wiltshire.
Smith emphasized the need for transformation within the festival industry, suggesting that some of the planned changes would be challenging at the current site.
The new location, he said, needs to be “beautiful, part of the story – it’s got to contribute something to the festival.”
In the meantime, WOMAD will continue its global festivals in locations like Australia, New Zealand, and Spain.
The UK team is also considering a smaller event for 2025 as a prelude to the 2026 relaunch.
Thanking Charlton Park staff and the local community for their support over the past 17 years, Smith reassured fans, saying, “This isn’t the end, just a new beginning.”
More details on the new site are expected in the coming weeks.
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