WOMAD
A brave new world for WOMAD
WOMAD will return next year with a new site, new stages, new suppliers and a new capacity, signalling a new start for the much-loved event. AAA caught up with festival director Chris Smith to find out what the changes mean for the event, its production and future.
SSince it was founded in 1982, Peter Gabriel’ s World of Music, Arts and Dance( WOMAD) Festival has long been regarded as the UK’ s leading global music event, offering a remarkable array of artists from every corner of the planet.
One of the UK’ s few remaining large-scale independent festivals, WOMAD has been staged at Charlton Park, Malmsbury, since 2007, having previously counted Rivermead in Reading and Shepton Mallet among its homes.
“ We ' re not going to use any of the same structures.”
The 43rd edition of WOMAD will mark a new era for festival, when it will become the first event to be held at the Neston Park country house and estate. After a fallow year in 2025, WOMAD’ s return will reunite a team, led by festival director Chris Smith and head of operations Rupert Bassadone, who are overseeing
Neston Park
sweeping changes while going to tender with many of the supplier services.
26 accessaa. co. uk