WOMAD has unveiled the first artists for its 2026 edition, marking a new chapter at Neston Park in Wiltshire from 23rd to 26th July 2026.
Following a year away and a swift sell-out of Tier 1 tickets in under an hour, the global music institution returns with a line-up that reflects its long-standing ethos of cross-cultural exchange and discovery.
Among the first headliners announced are South London neo-soul artist Greentea Peng, Malian icon Oumou Sangaré, reggae and dancehall pioneer Barrington Levy and Swedish-Argentinian songwriter José González.
Greentea Peng’s blend of R&B, dub and spiritual introspection aligns neatly with WOMAD’s outward-looking perspective. Oumou Sangaré, long known as the “Songbird of Wassoulou”, brings over three decades of work that fuses traditional Malian forms with contemporary soul and Afro-pop, alongside an outspoken commitment to social justice. Barrington Levy’s presence anchors the programme in reggae history, his hits ‘Here I Come’ and ‘Under Mi Sensi’ remaining touchstones of 80s dancehall. José González offers a quieter counterpoint, his intricate acoustic style and breakthrough album Veneer continuing to resonate across Europe.
Opening proceedings on Thursday will be Ghanaian artist K.O.G, whose afro-future and funk-informed performances promise a high-energy start.
Elsewhere, the first wave spans jazz, folk, rap and electronic experimentation. Mercury Prize-shortlisted Glaswegian corto.alto joins spiritual jazz vocalist ganavya and Afrobeat torchbearer Mádé Kuti, grandson of Fela Kuti. From Colombia’s Palenquero folk-rap innovators Kombilesa Mí to South Korea’s bluegrass reinterpretationists Country Gongbang, the emphasis remains firmly on borderless exchange.
Veteran Pakistani instrumentalist Ustad Noor Bakhsh, Mauritanian griot Noura Mint Seymali and Palestinian rap pioneer Tamer Nafar further underline the breadth of this initial announcement.
As ever, WOMAD extends beyond the stages. The World of Words programme will host talks and discussions, while Taste The World invites performers to share culinary traditions. Workshops, instrument sessions and dance classes sit alongside the World of Wellbeing’s yoga spaces and wood-fired hot tubs. The World of Children returns with its Sunday parade and expanded family programming, with free entry for children aged 13 and under.
Festival director Chris Smith describes the move to Neston Park as a fresh beginning supported by artists, audiences and the local community alike.
WOMAD 2026 takes place at Neston Park, Atworth Lane, Corsham, Wiltshire, SN13 9TG from 23rd to 26th July 2026. Tier 2 tickets are on sale now via womad.co.uk.
