WOMADelaide has unveiled the first artist lineup for its 35th anniversary, returning to Botanic Park/Tainmuntilla from 5–8 March 2027. The program spans generations, genres and geographies across four days and nights of music, arts and dance.
Since 1992, The World’s Festival has brought global sounds and cultures to Adelaide, becoming one of Australia’s longest-running and most cherished festivals. The 2027 milestone promises to deliver.
The headline acts
British duo Underworld headline, bringing the acid house and rave sound that shaped a generation. Their hit ‘Born Slippy .NUXX’ remains a defining moment in dance music history. Grammy Award-nominated Fatoumata Diawara brings her soaring vocals and soulful Malian roots, elevated through collaborations with Damon Albarn, Oumou Sangaré and Disclosure.
They join previously announced acts Leon Bridges (USA), Madness (UK) and Tinariwen (Azawad).
Canadian math-rock pair Angine de Poitrine bring their signature polka dots, tall papier-mâché masks and elongated noses for a performance that surprises both visually and sonically.
Festival favourites return
Kyiv-based DakhaBrakha, who first appeared at WOMADelaide in 2011 and have since performed at Glastonbury, return with their powerful blend of Ukrainian folk traditions, global rhythms and contemporary sounds. Multi-ARIA Award winner Christine Anu makes her three-decade return, having performed at the 1995 and 1997 festivals.
In a particularly special booking, violin virtuoso Dr. L. Subramaniam returns to where it all began. He performed at the very first WOMADelaide in 1992 and has captivated audiences worldwide for more than five decades.
Australian debuts and global sounds
Several acts make their Australian debut: camp carnival-pop duo Haute & Freddy (USA) bring theatrical flair and synth-driven maximalism that has won fans including Lady Gaga; Altın Gün propel the worldwide revival of Turkish music with their psychedelic folk-rock; and 2025 Gaudí Award recipient Maria Arnal brings one of contemporary Spanish music’s most groundbreaking voices.
The dancefloor heats up with four-time Grammy-nominated DJ/producer Kenny Dope of Masters at Work and original Boiler Room programmer Bradley Zero.
Further afield, the program welcomes Wild Wild Women, India’s first all-female rap group; the high-voltage trance-rock of Claudio Rabe (Madagascar/Réunion); energetic dub-reggae from Hempress Sativa (Jamaica); and seven-piece Afro-psychedelic outfit BCUC (South Africa). Bhutan Balladeers become the first Bhutanese group to perform at the festival.
Beyond the stages
South Korea’s Ambiguous Dance Company presents Body Concert, an exuberant exploration of dance, rhythm and the human body structured like a live music concert.
The Around the Park program features Helios, a spectacular seven-metre diameter replica of the sun by UK artist Luke Jerram, while French absurdists Les Goulus return with three interactive shows.
The Taste the World program returns with artists sharing food recipes and stories from home. KidZone offers activities for young festival-goers, and The Planet Talks continues its exploration of environmental and global issues.
“Beginning as a wild experiment, WOMADelaide has brought some of the world’s most extraordinary artists to Adelaide for 35 years,” says WOMADelaide Director Ian Scobie AM. “The spirit of discovery, connection and celebration that sparked WOMADelaide in 1992 is as alive today as ever.”
Tickets are now on sale, with more artists to be announced.
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