"Today’s announcement of 47 groups from 28 countries demonstrates why it truly is the world’s festival,” the WOMADelaide festival director states.
WOMADelaide (Supplied)
WOMADelaide has just announced the first 47 artists slated to perform at the 2025 iteration of the beloved festival - and this colourful, international line-up is truly something to behold.
Iconic music powerhouse PJ Harvey will be taking the stage at WOMADelaide this year, marking her first performance on Australian soil in eight years. The UK artist will be performing tracks from her Grammy-nominated tenth studio album, I Inside The Old Year Dying - and, of course, returning to her classics for the festival’s opening night.
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Genre-collapsing German composer Nils Frahm is another exciting part of the line-up. Known for his fascinating and unconventional approach to piano - with which he combines classical and electrical streams - Frahm’s performance at the festival will not be one to be missed.
Global superstar Mariza is also slated to perform. Having sold over a million records worldwide, the Portuguese fado singer is sure to electrify Adelaide audiences with her keen voice and star persona.
Palestinian Jordanian electronic group 47SOUL will also be present to bestow their unifying music upon audiences, performing a set that will surely be more prescient and emotionally-stirring than ever.
Other major artists performing in 2025 include iconic afrofuturist, jazz group Sun Ra Arkestra, unique Balkan folk legend Goran Bregović & His Wedding & Funeral Band, British electronica and fusion act Nitin Sawhney CBE, and British Jazz powerhouse Shabaka, and many many more exciting international guests.
Exciting Australian acts set to perform include electro neo-soul Sydney-based artist Ngaiire, multi-ARIA award nominee blues and roots supernova Emily Wurramara, and First Nations trio 3%, made up of hip-hop MCs Dallas Woods, Nooky, and Angus Field.
WOMADelaide Festival Director Ian Scobie AM appears to be beyond excited for the star-studded event. “WOMADelaide is when Adelaide throws its arms around the world to welcome, share, discover and celebrate music, arts and dance. Today’s announcement of 47 groups from 28 countries demonstrates why it truly is the world’s festival.”
Minister for Tourism South Australia, Zoe Bettison, expresses values that are in clear alignment with Scobie’s, saying, “True to WOMADelaide’s roots, this impressive line-up showcases the best of music, dance, art, and thinking from every corner of the world. We know for more than 30 years, WOMADelaide has attracted music lovers and festival goers from across the state, country, and world to the heart of our city–and with this diverse line-up, 2025 will be no different.
“This is exactly why the State Government has committed to supporting WOMADelaide for the next five years, to help ensure the festival continues to bring world-class acts, attract visitors, and fill hotel rooms. Now is the time to start locking in your March long weekend plans in South Australia, to discover why Adelaide is the nation’s only UNESCO City of Music.”
The open-air festival, boasting delicious food stalls and a colourful marketplace as well as iconic music acts, will take place at Adelaide’s gorgeous Botanic Gardens.
Read the full list of announced artists below:
3% (Aus)
47SOUL(Palestine/Jordan)
Ana Carla Maza (Cuba)
Andrew GurruwiwiBand (Aus)
Bala Desejo (Brazil)
Bangarra Dance Theatre–The Light Inside(Aus)
Bonny Light Horseman (USA)
Chris Kamu’ana Rohoimae-Pacific Break winner (Solomon Islands)
Cie Paris Benares-Chamôh (Camel)(France)
Delgres (France)
DJ Paulette (UK)
Dream Engine – Heliosphere (UK)
Duo Ruut (Estonia)
Durand Jones & The Indications (USA)
Ela Minus (Colombia)
Eleanor Jawurlngali – (Aus)
Elsy Wameyo (Kenya)
Emily Wurramara –(Aus)
Etran de l'Aïr (Niger)
Goran Bregović& His Wedding & Funeral Band (Serbia)
Hewa Rwanda (Rwanda/Senegal)
John Grant (USA)
The Joy (South Africa)
Khruangbin (USA)
Lindigo (Réunion)
The Lofty Mountain Band (Aus)
Majnun (Senegal)
The Mande Spirit (Aus)
Mariza (Portugal)
Miss Kanina (Aus)
Ngaiire(PNG/Aus)
Nils Frahm (Germany)
Nitin Sawhney (UK)
Norsicaa (UK/Aus)
O.TA.I.KO ZA MYOJIN (Japan)
PJ Harvey (UK)
Queen Omega (Trinidad & Tobago)
Restless Dance Theatre–Seeing Through Darkness (Aus)
Satish Vyas & U Rajesh (India)
Shabaka (UK)
Silent Observers (Aus)
Sun Ra Arkestra (USA)
Talisk (Scotland)
Trio da Kali (Mali)
UPKAllstars(Aus)
Wrong Way Up (South Sudan/Aus)
This piece of content has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body