Peter Gabriel has introduced that his WOMAD competition will likely be taking a break subsequent 12 months, earlier than returning to a brand new location for 2026.
WOMAD, which stands for World of Music, Arts and Dance, was based by Gabriel in 1980 with the intention of spotlighting an eclectic combination of genres. Since then, the competition has travelled to 27 nations internationally, whereas the principle UK occasion has taken place in Charlton Park in Wiltshire since 2007.
This 12 months was its forty second version and, as introduced right this moment (November 5), it’s final in Charlton Park.
In an announcement, Gabriel has shared that, after 17 years in Wiltshire, WOMAD is “transferring to a brand new residence” that’s “not far” from the present web site. “To make sure that the competition can proceed to thrive for years to come back in our new location, now we have determined to take a 12 months off in 2025 earlier than returning totally charged in 2026,” he added.
Gabriel went on to say: “WOMAD, like many festivals and occasions, has seen some challenges post-COVID and we at the moment are engaged within the technique of re-evaluating, regenerating and reinvigorating all the things we do – and the place we need to go sooner or later. We’re delighted to say we’ll be saying our new plans over the following few weeks.”
It follows the competition’s cancellation in 2021 amid the COVID pandemic which, on the time, Gabriel put all the way down to an absence of assist from the UK authorities. He had beforehand warned that the occasion could be cancelled until the federal government provided an insurance coverage program.
Gabriel has added that a number of WOMAD festivals all over the world, “together with WOMADelaide, WOMAD New Zealand and WOMAD Cáceres” will nonetheless be going down over the following 12 months, “with plans for additional occasions in Las Palmas, Brazil and Chile” too. He additionally revealed there will likely be a “particular UK occasion for subsequent 12 months to ship a style of the distinctive WOMAD expertise,” which will likely be introduced within the coming week.
He continued: “We need to ship an enormous “Thank You” to the entire sensible workers at Charlton Park who made us really feel welcome for the final 17 years, pulling us out of many sticky conditions (fairly actually, on these wet weekends!). We couldn’t have accomplished what we did with out you.
“Additionally, to the fabulous neighborhood in Malmesbury, Charlton, and all the encircling villages for whom we created a number of days of disruption annually. You could have all the time responded positively and embraced WOMAD, welcoming us into your neighborhood and dealing with us in so some ways.”
“Lastly, thanks to the entire Pageant-Goers, Artists, Crew, Contractors, Volunteers and Merchants who make WOMAD potential, a treasure within the competition calendar and a significant contribution to bringing communities collectively from everywhere in the world to rejoice variety and tolerance by means of Music, Arts, Dance, and Tradition,” he added. “We look ahead to welcoming you all to our new web site in 2026.”
In different information, final 12 months Gabriel appeared in a video by Artist for Motion to Forestall Gun Violence, an organisation that asks Individuals to vote to eradicate gun violence within the nation. “As a lot as I like the USA, I’m all the time appalled on the ease with which anybody can get a weapon,” Gabriel says within the video.
He additionally weighed in on the AI debate, saying, “I’m most likely simply as scared [of AI] as everyone else, however I like to leap within the river slightly than discuss it…I do give it some thought rather a lot, and I feel not sufficient persons are fascinated with it.”
