WOMAD has today revealed the day-by-day line-up for its highly anticipated return in 2026, with day tickets now on sale for its first edition at Neston Park in Wiltshire.

Taking place from 23–26 July, the world’s most celebrated global music festival will bring together legendary voices, future stars and boundary pushing artists from across the globe. From Afrobeat and reggae to jazz, hip hop and underground electronic music, the completed programme reflects WOMAD’s continued evolution while remaining rooted in its founding spirit of cultural exchange and discovery.

Friday’s line-up is led by South London neo soul star Greentea Peng, reggae legend Barrington Levy and Afrobeat innovator Mádé Kuti, whose appearance continues one of music’s most influential family legacies. They are joined by spiritual jazz vocalist ganavya, Birmingham rapper Kofi Stone and Bristol’s Ishmael Ensemble & Rituals Orchestra.

Saturday sees East London jazz visionary Alfa Mist, Brazilian superstar Daniela Mercury, Mercury Prize nominated Emma-Jean Thackray and Congolese groove pioneers Jupiter & Okwess take to the stage, showcasing a programme rich in contemporary jazz, experimentation and global rhythms.

Closing the festival on Sunday are Malian icon Oumou Sangaré and Swedish folk favourite José González, alongside Mercury Prize shortlisted jazz innovators corto.alto, Lebanese electronic pioneer Yasmine Hamdan and South African favourites Freshlyground.

Across the weekend, WOMAD’s growing embrace of jazz, hip hop and electronic music is evident throughout the programme. Artists including Alfa Mist, Emma-Jean Thackray, corto.alto, Kofi Stone and Greentea Peng sit alongside globally influential electronic selectors presented through the festival’s partnership with NTS, including VHOOR, DJ Travella, Cami Layé Okún and Shannen SP.

The programme also reflects WOMAD’s strong links with Bristol’s independent music community through collaborations and takeovers from organisations including Saffron, the pioneering music and technology initiative working to redress the industry’s gender imbalance by supporting women, non-binary and trans communities. Also featured are Jam Jar, Bristol’s much-loved independent music space championing both local talent and artists from around the world, alongside Twende and VP Productions, two Bristol-based collectives renowned for their vibrant celebrations of global music, bringing together afrobeats, reggae, Latin sounds and beyond.

Paula Henderson, WOMAD Global Artist Programmer, said:

“Curating WOMAD is about discovery, bringing together artists from different musical worlds who expand horizons and connect with our audience. This line-up reflects that spirit, and we’re looking forward to welcoming these incredible musicians to our new home at Neston Park.”

FULL ARTIST DAY SPLIT INFORMATION BELOW

WOMAD FESTIVAL UK 2026
Neston Park, Atworth Lane, Corsham, Wiltshire, SN13 9TG
23–26 JULY 2026

TICKET INFORMATION

Adult day ticket – £144.92

Adult accessible day ticket – £144.92 (with personal assistant tickets being free)

Teenager day ticket £96.61

Tickets Available here

Camping, live-in vehicle and parking passes available separately. Weekend Tickets: www.womad.co.uk

FULL DAY SPLIT SCHEDULE:

Thursday 23 July

·       K.O.G

·       School Project

·       Tian Qiyi

NTS:

·       Ruby Khaira

·       Sofie K

·       Livwutang

Friday 24 July

·       Annie & the Caldwells

·       Barrington Levy

·       The Beatbox Collective

·       Carolina La Chispa

·       Country Gongbang

·       Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek

·       ganavya

·       Greentea Peng

·       Ishmael Ensemble & Rituals Orchestra

·       Kofi Stone

·       La Perla

·       Lamisi

·       Lăutăresele

·       Leo Miyagee

·       Mádé Kuti

·       Mohammad Reza Mortazavi

·       Momoko Gill

·       Secret Night Gang

·       Tamer Nafar

·       Wesli

NTS:

·       Coco María

·       Dare Balogun

·       VHOOR

Late Night Takeover: Twende

Saturday 25 July

·       Alfa Mist

·       Ana Lua Caiano

·       The Beatbox Collective

·       Bénin International Musical

·       Big Pollo

·       Cure For Paranoia

·       Daniela Mercury

·       Emma-Jean Thackray

·       Gisela João

·       Jupiter & Okwess

·       Lemoncello

·       LYR

·       Mixanteña de Santa Cecilia

·       Nakibembe Xylophone Troupe

·       Noura Mint Seymali

·       Rust

·       Sabine McCalla

·       Say She She

·       Shanghai Restoration Project with Tebza Majaivane

·       Ta Dhom Project

·       Yegor Zabelov

NTS:

·       Cheb Mimo

·       DJ Travella

·       Shannen SP

Late Night Takeover: Jam Jar

Sunday 26 July

·       Barrut

·       BITOI

·       Boko Yout

·       Clara Serra López

·       corto.alto

·       Dudù Kouate

·       Freshlyground

·       Ganna

·       Garifuna Collective

·       Hempress Sativa & Unconquerable Band

·       José González

·       Kankawa Nagarra

·       Oumou Sangaré

·       Seppuku Pistols

·       Sorvina

·       Spafford Campbell

·       Tanxugueiras

·       Ustad Noor Bakhsh

·       Wild Wild Women

·       Yasmine Hamdan

NTS:

·       SNO

·       Cami Layé Okún

·       Rotational

Late Night Takeover: Saffron

Berkshire – June 2026 – As the longest day of the year approaches, Solstice at Wasing will once again welcome its visitors to join in the celebration of light, nature and renewal at the estate’s heart of ancient woodlands.

The event takes place in the natural environment of the living landscape at Wasing Estate, where it provides a slow moving experience through firelight ceremony, music, movement, wild swimming and dawn rituals, supporting guests to move away from the everyday noise and towards the more grounded, human and connected.

This year’s Solstice begins with a short reflective film by willow artist, folk singer and long-time friend of Wasing, Laura Wilcock, about what brings her back here and how the land has become a central aspect of the spirit of the celebration.

The Sacred Glade, the Wild Swim Lake, the Sacred Hill of the Solstice and the woodfired sauna are all integral parts of the experience that are contained within The Woodland at Wasing, a network of natural spaces. It’s not a traditional setting, but a temporary landscape created by trees, water, fire and open sky, offering participants a chance to slow down, breathe deeply and just be present.

At dusk the guests come together in the Sacred Glade to witness a ceremony which is lit by fire and led by Chris Park, Initiate of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. Music, song and shared ritual precede a torchlit processional through the woods to Solstice Hill where the group arrives in early morning.

The gathering is emotional at the centre when the Sunrise Ceremony is performed at dawn on the longest day. Facing the horizon in stillness and anticipation, guests welcome the first light together — a collective moment of gratitude, renewal and quiet celebration of the sun’s return to its fullest strength.

A programme of wellbeing experiences is available throughout the weekend, too, and this includes wild swimming in the woodland lake, woodfired saunas with views of the lake, forest meditation, ‘Forrest Yoga’, sunrise yoga, ‘gong baths’, ‘restorative yoga’ and ‘Yoga Nidra’. Every offering is based around a person’s whereabouts, whether that’s rest, reflection, movement or release.

Solstice at Wasing is not only an event, but rather, it is a community experience, a retreat, a ceremony.

“In a world that feels like it is at such a swift pace and so much a jumbled mess, this is an opportunity to return to something simpler,” they said. To nature, to each other, and to self — people can come as they are — and go away with what they need.

It runs from 20–21 June 2026 at Wasing Estate, creating a temporary community to which artists, facilitators and guests are invited, through the rhythms of the natural world, and the turning of the sun itself.

Live music is set to return to the South East, and London, for another massive summer of music in 2026. There’s an array of festivals – from country to city park mega events – and everything from electronic and indie to jazz, funk, soul and beyond.

This summer is going to be one of those summers where it’s easy to find a reason to get out of the house every weekend. So, here are some upcoming events.

Shindig Festival (21–24 May)

The season really gets under way at Shindig.

It’s colourful, it’s musical, it’s family friendly, it’s chaos and ohhhh, it’s in the grounds of Charlton Park Estate. It has that laid back, slightly magical vibe – sometimes called a “mini Glastonbury” and not far off the mark.

This year’s offering features Fat Dog, Bob Vylan, WAAR, Munho’s Hifi, My Baby and Snapped Ankles, to name a few, over the weekend.

Solstice at Wasing (20–21 June)

This one is a different kind of quiet — it’s more contemplative, more natural.

The festival is held in the celebration of the summer solstice in the woodland of Wasing in West Berkshire, featuring live music, ceremony and sharing under the longest day of the year.

Artists are among the many performers who are marking a weekend of connection and atmosphere as well as performance with music, including James Blake and Salif Keita.

BST Hyde Park (27 June – 12 July)

An authentic English summer treat!

BST Hyde Park brings a huge outdoor concert series to one of the most iconic green spaces in the city. It’s a party, it’s a concert season, it’s an all day thing to do.

Garth Brooks, ATEEZ, Maroon 5, Mumford & Sons, Duran Duran, Pitbull and Lewis Capaldi are all on the bill for this year, along with a veritable supporting cast.

The site is alive with free activities, food, film screenings and family activities throughout the Open House programme throughout the week.

Love Supreme Jazz Festival (3–5 July)

Appropriate Jazz in all its forms — old and new.

Love Supreme is set in the beautiful Glynde Place estate, with several stages that feature a fusion of jazz, soul, funk, blues and hip-hop.

They join headliners Loyle Carner, Ezra Collective and De La Soul (full band show), alongside a stellar line-up of artists including DJ Pee .Wee (aka Anderson .Paak), Jalen Ngonda, Free Nationals, Gabrielle, Sister Sledge, The Temptations & The Four Tops, Franc Moody, Maze, Durand Bernarr, Kokoroko, and many more.

GuilFest (4–5 July)

GuilFest is grounded, friendly, local and characterful.

It’s at Stoke Park, Guildford, and is known for its community atmosphere and all-encompassing cast of characters.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor  and The Proclaimers are headliners along with Rudimental · Kula Shaker · Lottery Winners · Kid Creole & the Coconuts.

Boogietown (11 July)

Boogietown is all feel good.

It’s all about dancing, nostalgia and big live moments in a one day celebration of disco, soul and funk set in the Surrey countryside.

This year, there’s Gloria Gaynor, Shalamar, Gabrielle, Earth, Wind & Fire Experience by Al McKay and Soul II Soul.

The Kaleidoscope Festival (11 July)

A small festival packed with a lot of activity.

Kaleidoscope brings live music, DJs and comedy together in an easy going summer day, high above London at Alexandra Palace.

Faithless headlined, DJ set Groove Armada and Groove Armada band members MJ Cole, Black Grape, Roni Size and The Amy Winehouse Band were on hand, as was comedy from Russell Kane and more.

Stowaway Festival (31 July to 2 August)

The festival is being held from 31 July to 2 August at the Stowaway Festival site.The festival runs from 31 July until 2 August at the Stowaway Festival site.

Even though it’s getting bigger, Stowaway still has a secret feeling.

Smuggled into the heart of woodland, lakeside and Buckinghamshire, it’s relaxed, creative and, of course, slightly untidy.

Set by DJ set – Nightmares on Wax, Kokoroko, Say She She, Emma-Jean Thackray, Skream, Ewan McVicar, Calibre, Move D and Hot 8 Brass Band.

It’s a weekend that’s neither day nor night, between swimming and dancing in the woods.

Boomtown Festival (12–16 August)

It’s not really a festival, it’s a temporary city, boomtown.

It is continuing its tradition of a combination of music and storytelling, giant stage design, and immersive worlds with the “Radical Redesign” theme for 2026.

This year’s headliners feature Skrillex, Four Tet, Faithless, Groove Armada, Scooter, Madness, Scissor Sisters, Kneecap, Ashnikko, Eve, Shy FX, David Rodigan and High Focus Allstars and many more to come.

Reading Festival (27-30 August)

The summer comes to a conclusion as it always does: Reading.

It’s one of the most iconic festivals in the UK, featuring big acts and emerging talent on various stages, and ending the season on a high note.

Charli XCX, Chase & Status, Dave, Florence + The Machine, Fontaines D.C. and RAYE will be on the 2026 headliner list, alongside Skepta, Role Model, Geese, Skye Newman, Josh Baker, Kettama and Chris Stussy.

In summary

Whether you’re seeking stellar headlining acts, underground gems or a weekend out with friends, 2026 has something for everyone, from countryside woods to huge city stages.

This time it’s not a single moment that’s the key, but a whole season.