After a brief pause in 2025, WOMAD Festival — the world-renowned celebration of music, arts, and dance — is officially back for its 43rd edition and heading to a stunning new home at Neston Park, near Corsham in Wiltshire.
The lush, historic Neston Park estate, which has never before hosted a public event, will open its gates to thousands of festival-goers for a weekend of world music, culture, and connection.
Peter Gabriel: “WOMAD is officially back — and in a beautiful new home.”
Festival founder Peter Gabriel shared his delight in a statement:
“Well, here we are again! I’m delighted to say that WOMAD is officially back.
We’re back and in a beautiful new home – Neston Park, near our own base at Real World Studios. When we learned that Sir James and Lady Venetia Fuller were keen to open up their beautiful estate and host WOMAD, it immediately felt like a warm and welcoming home where we could sink our roots.
In a world where so many bad actors fan the flames of hatred and division, a meeting place for all the world’s cultures and dreams, built on mutual respect, seems more precious than ever. Thank you for being there.”
A new chapter for WOMAD
Sir James and Lady Venetia Fuller, owners of Neston Park, said:
“We, along with our home team, are very excited to welcome the WOMAD community to Neston Park in 2026. This will be the first time we’ve opened the estate to any event, and WOMAD’s message and what it stands for is something we’ve long admired.”
Chris Smith, WOMAD Festival Director, added:
“WOMAD is back! We took a break to reflect on what makes WOMAD so special and what our incredible community of artists and audiences deserves.
Our new site is a canvas for creating unforgettable experiences — a place where curiosity is sparked and everyone feels welcome. We are building on our incredible legacy with a clear vision for the next 40 years.”
A legacy of global celebration
WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) was first founded in 1982 in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, and has since travelled across the UK and the world. It spent 16 years at Rivermead in Reading (1990–2006) before moving to Charlton Park, Malmesbury, where it became one of Wiltshire’s cultural crown jewels from 2007 to 2024.
Its new chapter at Neston Park promises to blend the festival’s global heartbeat with the estate’s natural beauty — continuing WOMAD’s mission to celebrate diversity, creativity, and unity through art and music.
️ Tickets for WOMAD 2026 go on sale Thursday 13 November 2025.
For updates and line-up announcements, visit www.womad.co.uk.
