WOMADelaide 2026 in pictures

After the two previous editions of the iconic festival sweltered through scorching heat, a perfect autumn weekend was a welcome blessing for WOMADelaide artists, crowds, volunteers and staff alike.

And despite the chaos of global conflict, it all came together seemingly without a hitch – thanks to the scrambling of the festival team who re-routed flights for hundreds of artists from around the world.

While Grace Jones, Arrested Development and Yothu Yindi headlined the four-day world music festival (read the full festival review here) there were countless standout performances across all stages.

These are just a few that SALIFE managed to capture.

Strong female artists were a feature right across the four days.

While Grace Jones headlined Saturday, International Women’s Day (Sunday, March 8) saw Grammy-award winner and feminist icon Oumou Sangaré captivate audiences with a powerful performance on the Foundation Stage.

Sangaré held the stage with star power – a fitting follow-up to Jones’ performance on the same stage one day earlier.

Sunday also saw progressive roots and dub artist Nattali Rize and her band bring high-energy to the Foundation Stage in the afternoon.

It was a coup for roots and reggae fans who remember Rize’s 2012 WOMAD performance with her former group Blue King Brown.

Rize, who uses her music to promote themes of freedom and social justice, was applauded by the crowd for speaking to the oppression of peoples around the world.

“The Fresh Prince of Arnhem Land”, Baker Boy had the crowd jumping from the moment he exploded onto the Foundation stage Sunday night.

Looking much-evolved from his 2022 WOMAD performance, his swagger, rapid-fire rap and physique showed the ARIA award-winner has entered a new chapter.

Over on Stage Two on Sunday night, UK artist Obongjayar used the full width and depth of the stage as he delivered a passionate, high-energy performance like a man possessed. A very fit man.

The Nigerian-raised frontman may even have needed a trip to a dentist the following day, seeming to have chipped a tooth while emphatically wielding the microphone.

“I chipped a tooth for you guys,” he exclaimed to the crowd, smiling and puffing.

Every year, one is reminded just how important WOMADelaide has become to Adelaide culture and music.

Friends reunite. Familiar faces are spotted from across the dance floor once again.

Families come together on picnic blankets and lawn chairs.

Children wearing pink earmuffs crowd surf on shoulders.

And over more than 30 years, the festival has created its own subculture that may not have existed otherwise. Or perhaps tapped into one that was already there.

Where other music festivals have come and gone – festivals that showcase the most popular and trending artists – WOMADelaide continues on with a format of discovery and experience.

A form of international travel through rhythm and culture.

Inimitable French group Orange Blossom was one of Monday’s standout performances, bringing their mesmerising mix of electronic, Western and Arab influences to the Foundation Stage.

The tension of their dramatic Arabic melodies was goosebump-inducing.

The crowd lapped up their trance-like rhythms, Arabic tones, afro-beat drumming and soaring vocals.

The group’s captivating violinist and founder Pierre-Jean Chabot patrolled the stage like a lead guitarist of a heavy metal band.

Returning back to WOMADelaide was My Baby, whose high-energy mix of blues, country and funk drew crowds from across the park to fill Stage Three’s natural amphitheatre.

Comprised of brother-sister duo Cato van Dijck (vocals, bass) and Joost van Dijck (drums), with Daniel ‘Dafreez’ Johnston (guitar), the band creates a thumping sound for just a three-piece.

Frontwoman Cato van Dijck whipped the crowd into a dance frenzy, as Johnston showed intense focus on his unique mix of slide, blues and delay guitar.

While high-energy performances were the order of the day, these were interspersed with soulful and profound moments.

New Zealand singer-songwriter Marlon Williams may have at first seemed an interesting choice for the Foundation Stage, but held the large audience in the palm of his hand.

Meanwhile, you could hear a pin drop at Stage Three where folk musician Annahstasia provided a deeply emotional performance with her voice and acoustic guitar.

Fantastic Negrito returned to back up his 2023 WOMAD performance.

It seems he’s gained a fan base from those years ago, as his Stage Two performance was standing-room-only.

Wearing his heart on his sleeve, the captivating blues guitarist and singer didn’t disappoint.

However, he may have been slightly upstaged by his new lead guitarist who ripped through blistering guitar solos to rave applause.

Cuban jazz pianist Roberto Fonseca and his band provided a fun afternoon performance on Stage Two, with their blend of jazz, R&B and funk transporting audiences to Havana.

It was a pleasure to witness the former Buena Vista Social Club member at the height of his career.

And, for the nocturnal party-goers who danced under the bat-filled pine trees, the DJ sets were on point.

Local favourite Motez (Moutaiz Al-Obaidi) provided the party on Saturday night, and Megatronic (Megane Quashie) had things pumping late into Sunday.

For the hardcore WOMAD-goers still around after 10pm on Monday, London’s Jyoty (Jyoty Singh) rounded out the festival with a bang.

Now, we have a full 12 months to wait for WOMADelaide’s 30th edition, and it can’t come fast enough.