Tomorrow, WOMADelaide 2026 begins – uniting artists and audiences from across Australia and around the world for an unforgettable celebration of music, culture, and discovery. This year’s extraordinary lineup is led by Jovanotti (Italy), one of Italy’s most influential and visionary artists, global avant-garde icon Grace Jones (Jamaica), hip-hop pioneers Arrested Development (USA) – best known for ‘People Everyday’, and Yothu Yindi (Aus), who return to the park for the first time since 1993 celebrating the 35th anniversary of ‘Treaty’.
For its 29th edition, WOMADelaide welcomes 600+ artists from 37 countries to the majestic natural surrounds of Botanic/Park Tainmuntilla for four days and nights of music arts and dance – a journey of cultural discovery, from 6-9 March.
A major independent event in South Australia’s summer calendar, WOMADelaide offers a rich cultural experience with globally significant artists, including one of Africa’s greatest female voices and activists, Oumou Sangaré (Mali); the ‘Fresh Prince of Arnhem Land’, Yolŋu sensation Baker Boy (Aus); Aotearoa’s sublime Marlon Williams (NZ) with special guests Kapa Haka group Ngā Mātai Pūrua; and global ambassador and leading force in the revival of Cuban jazz, Roberto Fonseca (Cuba).
Though faced with significant challenges due to the global travel disruptions caused by the current conflict in the Middle East, WOMADelaide – the World’s festival – finds a way.
WOMADelaide director Ian Scobie AM, says: ‘In an incredibly challenging environment, the logistical obstacles of bringing such a large and diverse program of artists from around the globe have been immense. We are deeply grateful to our team and the hundreds of artists who have persevered to find the combination of new routes and flights to ensure these extraordinary performances reach us. At a time like this, WOMADelaide – as the world’s festival, reflecting the world as we would all hope it can be – is more important than ever. The weather forecast is stunning, and the park – like the lineup – is looking sensational.’
Highlights of the 2026 program also include beloved American singer-songwriter Iron & Wine (USA); soul sensation Jalen Ngonda (USA/UK); the Afro-funk artist Obongjayar(UK), frequent Fred again… collaborator; the spiritual jazz and South Asian classical music of Ganavya (India/USA); Canadian jazz fusion group BADBADNOTGOOD (Canada); American gospel family band, Annie & The Caldwells (USA), praised by Sir Elton John; East-African duo The Zawose Queens (Tanzania), and ‘the new matriarch of Australian rap’ BARKAA (Aus).
Around The Park performances include with the breathtaking trampoline and tightrope works from French dance-circus company Cie Hors Surface – Le poids des Nuages and HOME by Damien Droin (France); Osadía (Spain), the artistic hairdressers transforming unsuspecting audiences into living artworks; a dynamic residency from Born in a Taxi(AUS), delivering five electrifying roving performances and the powerful installation from Stan’s Café (UK) – Of All the People in All the World, where tonnes of grains of rice provide graphic representations of the global population and the challenges facing humanity.
WOMADelaide offers a feast for the imagination and the senses, from The Planet Talk sprogram featuring scientists, thinkers, activists, and writers in engaging discussions on global issues and possible solutions. In Taste the World festival artists share stories and cook favourite dishes from home in an intimate, relaxed setting. Festivalgoers can join artist-led workshops and enjoy the family-friendly program in KidZone.
In 2026, WOMADelaide will be South Australia’s first festival to power all stages with 100% renewable energy. This milestone is achieved through a mix of B100 biodiesel, trialled since 2021, and the newly added HVO fuel, making renewable energy the primary source of electricity and liquid fuel – one of many sustainability initiatives around the park.
South Australian Tourism Commission Chief Executive Officer Emma Terry says: ‘WOMADelaide is a cultural icon for South Australia, and this weekend we will be reminded why as thousands of festivalgoers and hundreds of artists flock to our city. Transforming our beautiful Botanic Park/Tainmuntilla into another world, WOMADelaide again brings the best of South Australia together – abundant nature, renowned food and beverage, and an unmatched festival atmosphere. The international festival is not only a significant economic driver for our hospitality and tourism industry, but reinforces our position as the Best Event State in the nation.’
WOMADelaide returns to Adelaide’s Botanic Park/Tainmuntilla from 6-9 March, with gates opening on Friday 6 March at 4pm.
For tickets, the full lineup and more information visit: www.womadelaide.com.au
Please note that, due to the global impacts on international travel and regional airport and route closures resulting from the current conflict in the Middle East, Alfio Antico & Go Dugong (Italy), Bhutan Balladeers (Bhutan), and Asmâa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou (Morocco) are unable to travel to Australia in time for their scheduled performances at WOMADelaide.
The full A-Z list of WOMADelaide 2026 artists is:
- Alcides Neto (Brazil/AUS)
- Alogte Oho & His Sounds of Joy (Ghana)
- Annahstasia (USA)
- Annie & The Caldwells (USA)
- Any Young Mechanic (AUS)
- Arrested Development (USA)
- Ashkan Shafiei (Iran/AUS)
- Australian Art Orchestra with Kojoe & Hikaru Tanaka — Raw Denshi (Japan/AUS)
- BADBADNOTGOOD (Canada)
- Baker Boy (AUS)
- Balaganesan & Bageswari (India)
- BARKAA (AUS)
- Beoga (Ireland)
- Blinky Bill (Kenya)
- Bobby Alu (Samoa/AUS)
- Born in a Taxi – Higher Order, Illuminati, Please Wait Here, Sleep Keepers & Zebras(AUS)
- BVT (Philippines/AUS)
- Chloe Loftus Dance – The Air Between Us (NZ/Belgium)
- Cie Hors Surface – Le poids des Nuages & HOME, Damien Droin (France)
- Crazy P (DJ set) (UK)
- Daughters of Donbas (Ukraine/Canada)
- Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek (Germany)
- Džambo Aguševi Orchestra (Macedonia)
- Fantastic Negrito (USA)
- Ganavya (India/USA)
- GANNA (Ukraine)
- Georgia Knight (AUS)
- Grace Jones (Jamaica)
- Iron & Wine (USA)
- Jalen Ngonda (USA/UK)
- Jovanotti (Italy)
- Jyoty (UK)
- KAIIT (PNG/AUS)
- Kankawa Nagarra (AUS)
- La Perla (Colombia)
- The Lazy Eyes (AUS)
- Lewis Major Projects – Triptych REDUX (AUS)
- MĀ (NZ)
- Mama Kin Spender (AUS)
- Mantis (Vanuatu)
- Marlon Williams (NZ)
- Maryam Rahmani (Iran/AUS)
- Meganesia (PNG/AUS/West Papua)
- Megatronic (UK)
- Mungo’s Hi Fi feat. Eva Lazarus (UK)
- MY BABY (The Netherlands/NZ)
- My Chérie (South Africa/AUS)
- Nattali Rize (AUS/Jamaica)
- The Necks (AUS)
- Nusantara Beat (The Netherlands)
- Obongjayar (Nigeria/UK)
- Orange Blossom (France)
- Osadía (Spain)
- Oumou Sangaré (Mali)
- Roberto Fonseca (Cuba)
- Rosas – Rosas danst Rosas, Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker (Belgium)
- Sama’ Abdulhadi (Palestine)
- SAN DRAGAN (Myanmar/China/AUS)
- Stan’s Café – Of All The People In All The World (UK)
- Troy Cassar-Daley (AUS)
- Xylourides (Greece)
- YASHA (Japan/AUS)
- Yothu Yindi (AUS)
- Yuka Okazaki (Japan/France)
- The Zawose Queens (Tanzania)
- Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange (AUS)
