Australia’s most diverse, eclectic and surprising festival, WOMADelaide today revealed the first 49 artists set to delight audiences as its 29th edition embarks upon a musical journey from Bhutan to the Kimberleys, Cuba and Ukraine, in Adelaide’s Botanic Park/Tainmuntilla over the long weekend 6–9 March 2026.
“There is really nothing else like it anywhere on the planet.” – The Australian
From the iconic Australian band Yothu Yindi celebrating 35 years of Tribal Voice to the Afro-funk of Nigerian, London-based Obongjayar who featured on the Fred again.. smash hit ‘adore u’; the sublime Marlon Williams, complete with Kapa Haka group Ngā Mātai Pūrua, to the spiritual jazz and South Asian classical music of Indian-American Ganavya; from 82-year-old First Nations gospel singer Kankawa Nagarra; plus Palestinian DJ Sama’ Abdulhadi’s return after seven years; soul sensation, Jalen Ngonda, fresh from his Glastonbury performance; Cuban Grammy-nominee and former Buena Vista Social Club member Roberto Fonseca; Scandinavian female folk group Åkervinda; along with Australian exclusives – renowned Belgian choreographer and dancer, Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker’s ground breaking dance work Rosas danst Rosas, Daughters of Donbas (Ukraine/Canada) and Orange Blossom (France); and the festival’s first Bhutanese artists, Bhutan Balladeers, music from over 30 countries can be savoured at WOMADelaide 2026.
These artists join the recently announced Yolngu rapper and dancer Baker Boy, American singer-songwriter Iron & Wine, Irish folk band Beoga and ABC’s Pacific Break winner Mantis from Vanuatu.
Other musical joys over the four days include all-female Gnawa group Asmâa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou (Morocco), Troy Cassar-Daley (AUS) accompanied by a string quartet, Xylourides (Greece), The Zawose Queens (Tanzania), Alogte Oho & His Sounds of Joy (Ghana), Jyoty (UK), Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek (Turkiye), Džambo Aguševi Orchestra (Macedonia), GANNA (Ukraine) and La Perla (Colombia).
Since 1992, WOMADelaide – this extraordinary festival of the World of Music, Arts & Dance – has attracted thousands of visitors from across the country to Adelaide’s incomparable Botanic Park. No two lineups are ever the same and audiences come not only for the music, but to immerse themselves in the full festival experience. The Around the Park program will include stunning trampoline and tightrope works by French dance-circus Cie Hors Surface — Le poids des Nuages & HOME, Damien Droin; artistic hairdressers Osadía (Spain) who turn unsuspecting audience members into walking works of art through colourful makeup and hair; Stan’s Café — Of All The People In All The World (UK) who use piles of rice to represent human population statistics in a powerful emotional experience; and a residency by Born in a Taxi (AUS), presenting five different roving shows.
Returning in 2026 are WOMADelaide staples and favourites Taste the World – where artists are invited to cook dishes from home, the WoMarkets – a shaded hub of over 40 retail stalls; KidZone – hands-on arts activities for children; the Planet Talks sessions discussing environmental and other global issues and solutions and The Sanctuary Restaurant at Adelaide Zoo.
“An event that unabashedly creates a space where cultural differences are both understood and celebrated, and the value of that in an increasingly diverse social and political landscape ought not be understated.” – Double J
Quote from WOMADelaide Director, Ian Scobie: “Few festivals in the world are able to showcase the breadth and diversity of music, arts and dance from across the globe, especially on such a large scale, while appealing to audiences of all ages and tastes. WOMADelaide is a glorious opportunity to discover new sounds that are soon to be favourites and embrace artists you love.”
Quote from Minister for Tourism South Australia, Zoe Bettison: “WOMADelaide is one of the most popular and revered festivals in the country, loved not only by South Australians but people from all over the world. It highlights world-class artists and a full festival experience, while attracting visitors to the state, and filling hotel rooms and restaurants.”
The full list of WOMADelaide artists in the 30 October announcement is:
- Åkervinda (Sweden)
- Alogte Oho & His Sounds of Joy (Ghana)
- Annahstasia (USA)
- Any Young Mechanic (AUS)
- Ashkan Shafiei (Iran/AUS)
- Asmâa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou (Morocco)
- Australian Art Orchestra with Kojoe & Hikaru Tanaka — Raw Denshi (Japan/AUS)
- Baker Boy (AUS)
- Balaganesan & Bageswari (India)
- BARKAA (AUS)
- Beoga (Ireland)
- Bhutan Balladeers (Bhutan)
- Blinky Bill (Kenya)
- Bobby Alu (Samoa/AUS)
- Born in a Taxi – Higher Order, Illuminati, Please Wait Here, Sleep Keepers & Zebras (AUS)
- BVT (Phillipines/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 (Turkiye)
- Džambo Aguševi Orchestra (Macedonia)
- Ganavya (India/USA)
- GANNA (Ukraine)
- Iron & Wine (USA)
- Jalen Ngonda (USA/UK)
- Jyoty (UK)
- Kankawa Nagarra (AUS)
- La Perla (Colombia)
- The Lazy Eyes (AUS)
- Lewis Major Projects – Triptych REDUX (AUS)
- MĀ (NZ)
- Mantis (Vanuatu)
- Marlon Williams (NZ)
- Maryam Rahmani (Iran/AUS)
- My Chérie (South Africa/AUS)
- Nattali Rize (AUS/Jamaica)
- Obongjayar (Nigeria/UK)
- Orange Blossom (France)
- Osadía (Spain)
- Roberto Fonseca (Cuba)
- Rosas – Rosas danst Rosas, Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker (Belgium)
- Sama’ Abdulhadi (Palestine)
- Stan’s Café – Of All The People In All The World & The Commentators (UK)
- Troy Cassar-Daley (AUS)
- Xylourides (Greece)
- Yothu Yindi (AUS)
- Yuka Okazaki (Japan/France)
- The Zawose Queens (Tanzania)
WOMADelaide’s next program announcement will be in November.
Tickets and more information can be found at womadelaide.com.au.
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