Held on the traditional lands of the Kaurna People, WOMADelaide – from the  World Of Music Arts & Dance – WOMAD and the name of the host city of Adelaide, is an iconic open-air festival celebrating cultural discovery in the heart of the city’s stunning Botanic Park / Tainmuntilla.

Having begun in 1992 as a brilliant experiment and daring programming initiative of the Adelaide Festival developed from an approach by the organisers to the WOMAD organisation in the UK, took on an independent life of its own in 1993. 

WOMAD was co-founded in England by Grammy-winning musician Peter Gabriel: “Music is a universal language,” said Gabriel early on. “It draws people together and proves, as well anything, the stupidity of racism.”

_{Peter Gabriel performing at WOMADelaide 1993} 

Initially staged biennially from 1993, in alternate years to the then-biennial Adelaide Festival, WOMADelaide moved to an annual cycle from 2004 a move which encouraged the Adelaide Fringe and then the  Adelaide Festival to become annual events, with WOMADelaide expanding to become  a four-day event from 2010, with the program on environmental discussion forums, the Planet Talks being added in 2013.

Over its 30 + years the WOMADelaide festival has become a unique part of the Australian festival landscape, showcasing the best, the essential – and the surprising – in music, arts, dance and ideas from around the world, from large scale site performance installations to a renown approach to showcasing national and international artists in the stunning surrounds of Botanic Park / Tainmuntilla as a testament to the power of music, art, and multiculturalism.

Artists have included: 

-    Archie Roach – 1992
-    Crowded House – 1992
-    Geoffrey Oryema – 1995
-    Mahlathini & the Mahotella Queens – 1993
-    Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan – 1995
-    Oliver Mtukudzi & The Black Spirits – 2001
-    Paul Kelly - 1992
-    Peter Gabriel – 1993
-    Rokia Traoré – 2001
-    Salif Keita – 1993
-    Terem Quartet – 1997
-    Yothu Yindi
-    Youssou N’Dour – 1992
-    Ravi & Anoushka Shankar
-    Gil Scott-Heron
-    Dirty Three – 2012
-    Gotan Project – 2007
-    Kathakali Dance Ensemble – 2010
-    Mavis Staples – 2008
-    Mahotella Queens – 2007
-    Artonik’s The Colour of Time
-    Mariza – 2007
-    Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 – 2009
-    Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings – 2008
-    Xavier Rudd – 2010
-    Anoushka Shankar – 2017
-    Australian Dance Theatre - 2016
-    BAKER BOY – 2022
-    The Manganiyar Seduction
-    Bangarra Dance Theatre Terrain - 2023
-    Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn - 2023
-    Billy Bragg – 2014
-    Cimafunk - 2023
-    Florence + The Machine – 2023
-    Gaia By Luke Jerram
-    Gratte Ciel Place des Anges – 2023
-    Hugh Masekela – 2013
-    John Butler Trio – 2019
-    Kronos Quartet – 2023
-    Transe Express – Mobil Homme
-    MEUTE - 2023
-    Nakhane - 2023
-    Neneh Cherry & Youssou N'Dour – 2015
-    Sampa The Great - 2023
-    Sinéad O'Connor – 2015
-    Soweto Gospel Choir – 2013
-    TAO Dance Theater – 2018

For more information visit the WOMADelaide Archive. 

View Archive