WOMAD Glasgow Cancelled
Glasgow's inaugural WOMAD music festival cancelled due to insufficient ticket demand and competitive market
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The cancelled Glasgow edition had already assembled a specific hybrid bill, mixing Glasgow/Scottish acts (including Peat & Diesel, Talisk, Shooglenifty and Kim Carnie) with international performers such as Malian guitarist Vieux Farka Touré, Ghanaian musician King Ayisoba, Gambian kora player Suntou Susso and Indian folk-rock artist Raghu Dixit.
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Glasgow Life said refunds would be handled automatically and specified a timeline: “Refunds will be automatically issued within 7 working days.”
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Before cancellation, the festival was marketed as an “eclectic line-up” spanning “pop, dance, folk, jazz, hip-hop and beyond” and was planned to run across “three stages”.
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In its cancellation statement, Glasgow Life added that it “would also like to thank the many artists, contractors, suppliers, partners and stakeholders who have supported plans for the event over recent months.”
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Organisers provided more background on WOMAD’s reach and origins, saying it began in 1982 in Somerset (Shepton Mallet) under Peter Gabriel and others, and later ran in “30 countries” including Spain, Chile and New Zealand (as well as an Australian annual version, WOMADelaide).
Glasgow's first-ever WOMAD festival has been cancelled just one month before it was due to open, with organisers blaming low ticket sales and a packed summer calendar. Glasgow Life, the charity behind the event, confirmed the decision on June 2, saying sales fell "short of what was needed to make the inaugural event sustainable" Glasgow Live.
The festival was set to run across three stages in Kelvingrove Park on July 3 and 4, blending Scottish acts with performers from Mali, Ghana, Gambia and India. All ticket holders will receive full automatic refunds within seven working days Glasgow Live.
A Star-Studded Bill That Could Not Fill Seats
The cancelled event had assembled an ambitious lineup. Scottish acts Peat & Diesel, Talisk, Shooglenifty and Kim Carnie were billed alongside international names including Malian guitarist Vieux Farka Touré, Ghanaian musician King Ayisoba, Gambian kora player Suntou Susso and Indian folk-rock artist Raghu Dixit Glasgow Live.
The programme spanned "pop, dance, folk, jazz, hip-hop and beyond," according to marketing materials. Glasgow Life said the vision received an "extremely positive audience response" but that enthusiasm did not translate into enough ticket purchases to keep the event viable Head Topics.
Scotland's Festival Market Squeezed From Every Direction
WOMAD Glasgow is not alone. By mid-May 2026, at least six other Scottish festivals — including Paisley Alive and Black Isle Calling — had already cancelled or paused their 2026 editions Glasgow Live. Industry experts say some festivals now need to charge over £100 per ticket per day just to break even, as infrastructure costs and artist fees have surged.
The timing also worked against the event. TRNSMT, held just two weeks earlier at Glasgow Green, draws over 50,000 fans per day. Analysts say new, niche entrants are struggling to compete for the same pool of leisure spending in a cost-of-living squeeze Head Topics.
What Happens Next for Ticket Holders and Artists
Glasgow Life said refunds will be "automatically issued within 7 working days," meaning most buyers should see their money back by around June 9. Ticket holders will also be offered discounted entry to WOMAD UK at Neston Park in North Wiltshire, running July 23 to 26 The Scottish Sun.
The picture is harder for performers. Dozens of local and international artists now have empty gaps in their summer schedules, with travel and preparation costs already spent. Glasgow Life thanked "the many artists, contractors, suppliers, partners and stakeholders" who had backed the event over recent months Glasgow Live.
WOMAD's 44-Year Global Journey Hits a Scottish Stumbling Block
WOMAD — World of Music, Arts and Dance — was founded in 1982 by former Genesis frontman Peter Gabriel. It launched in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, and has since run in over 30 countries, including Spain, Chile, New Zealand and Australia, where it runs annually as WOMADelaide Glasgow Live.
The Glasgow edition was announced in December 2025 as WOMAD's first dedicated multi-day Scottish venture. Peter Gabriel had called the Glasgow plan "brilliant." Its failure leaves the brand without a Scottish foothold and raises questions about whether a boutique, non-camping urban festival can work in today's market Head Topics.
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