Events · Corsham
WOMAD festival makes successful return to Neston Park
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
The world music festival has returned to Wiltshire after a year-long hiatus, drawing thousands to its new home near Corsham for a weekend of global culture and performance.
Wiltshire's cultural calendar received a major boost this month as WOMAD, the renowned world music festival founded by Peter Gabriel, successfully returned to the county. The event, which took place at its new site in Neston Park near Corsham, welcomed 30,000 visitors and featured performances from 460 artists hailing from 38 different nations.
Following a one-year hiatus in 2025, the return of the festival saw organisers navigate a new site layout with a slightly reduced capacity. Despite these changes, the event maintained its reputation for offering a diverse array of global talent, family-friendly programming, and immersive workshops. Attendees were treated to a range of sounds, from experimental Japanese punk and traditional folk to the cutting-edge rhythms of the Ta Dhom Project, which combines South Indian percussion with contemporary rap.
A significant highlight of the weekend was the performance by Iranian percussionist Mohammad Reza Mortazavi in the festival's popular Big Top tent. Meanwhile, reggae icon Barrington Levy provided one of the most talked-about moments of the event, famously refusing to leave the stage at the conclusion of his set, which sparked a lively response from the crowd.
Logistical feedback from attendees remained largely positive. The new, more compact site design allowed for more intimate viewing experiences at the Sunflower and Village stages. Furthermore, the event drew praise for its pricing at the bars, where pints were available for under £7, a notable contrast to the standard costs typically associated with major national festivals.
Beyond the music, the festival lived up to its title as a 'World of Music, Arts and Dance'. The programme featured a spoken-word tent, topical discussions hosted by Byline Times, and an extensive wellness area. Interactive workshops remained a core component, allowing visitors to engage in activities such as Anatolian singing and traditional percussion.
The festival continues to attract a significant family audience, maintaining its reputation for being highly accessible for children. As the event concluded, organisers confirmed that the festival will return to the Neston Park site next year. Tickets for WOMAD 2027, scheduled for 22 to 25 July, are already available, with weekend passes starting at £202.50.
Source: Wiltshire Times — Music · View original