WOMADelaide Reveals First Artist Announcement For 2026

WOMADelaide organisers have revealed the highly anticipated first artist announcement ahead of the festival’s 2026 return.

Staying true to its reputation as the world’s festival, acts from across the globe – from Australia and New Zealand to Ukraine to Ghana to India to the UK and the USA – are on the bill. Today, the first 49 artists to perform at the festival have been announced, with additional acts to be unveiled in November.

Once again, the festival will take place at Adelaide’s Botanic Park/Tainmuntilla on the long weekend of Friday, 6 March, to Monday, 9 March.

Highlights of the 2026 program include Yothu Yindi celebrating 35 years of Tribal Voice, plus hyped-up shows from Obongjayar, Marlon Williams with the Kapa Haka group Ngā Mātai Pūrua, classical musician Ganavya, First Nations gospel singer Kankawa Nagarra, Palestinian DJ Sama’ Abdulhadi, Baker Boy, Iron & Wine, Troy Cassar-Daley, Ukraine’s GANNA, and more. You can check out the first artist announcement below.

In addition to live music, WOMADelaide offers the full festival experience by including visual art-focused Around the Park programming, staples and favourites such as Taste the World, the WoMarkets, KidZone, the Planet Talks sessions, and The Sanctuary Restaurant at Adelaide Zoo.

Tickets and more information about the 2026 event can be found on the WOMADelaide website.

“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,” said WOMADelaide Director, Ian Scobie.

“WOMADelaide is a glorious opportunity to discover new sounds that are soon to be favourites and embrace artists you love.”

South Australia’s Minister for Tourism, Zoe Bettison, added, “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.”

WOMADelaide 2026 – First Artist Announcement

• 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 (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)

• 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)