Glasgow to host WOMAD Festival in 2026

Glasgow is set to host an international music, arts and dance festival celebrating cultural expression from around the globe.

The first-ever WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) in Scotland will bring global artists to Kelvingrove Park on Friday 3 and Saturday 4 July 2026.

WOMAD Glasgow promises an eclectic line-up of high-profile and emerging artists performing a vast range of music including pop, dance, folk, jazz and hip-hop and beyond across three stages.

Festivalgoers can also look forward to free workshops led by musicians and dancers from around the world, try exotic foods cooked by the artists and learn about new cultures through a series of insightful talks.

WOMAD will be brought to Glasgow by WOMAD International in partnership with Glasgow Life – the charity which delivers culture, events and active living in Glasgow – and Celtic Connections, Glasgow’s annual folk, roots and world music festival which will help to programme the event.

WOMAD first took place in 1982, when former Genesis frontman Peter Gabriel and a group of like-minded and musically curious Bristolians put on the original festival in Shepton Mallet, Somerset.

Today, WOMAD is a global phenomenon. Over the past three decades, the festival has taken place in 30 countries, with events held in Fuerteventura and Cáceres in Spain, Santiago in Chile and Taranaki, New Zealand, among others. There is also an annual Australian version called WOMADelaide.

Some of the headline acts who have performed at WOMAD festivals over the years include Peter Gabriel himself, Glasgow’s own Simple Minds, Australian and New Zealand rock band Crowded House, American R&B and soul singer Macy Gray, rap group De La Soul and English rock outfit Echo and the Bunnymen.

The WOMAD Glasgow line-up and tickets will be released in early 2026 via the WOMAD Glasgow website and social media channels. Visit the WOMAD Glasgow website and sign up to be among the first to find out more.