A music festival organized by former Genesis lead singer Peter Gabriel has been canceled in Glasgow due to low ticket sales.
The World of Music, Arts, and Dance (WOMAD) festival was supposed to debut in Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Park on July 3 and 4. However, Glasgow Life, the organizer, announced the event’s cancellation citing financial unviability.
All ticket holders will receive full refunds and discounted tickets for the next event at Neston Park, North Wiltshire, on July 23-26.
WOMAD had promised a diverse lineup of artists covering various music genres like pop, dance, folk, jazz, and hip-hop for the Glasgow event this summer. The festival has a long history, having been held in 30 countries, including Spain, Chile, and New Zealand.
Notable past performers at WOMAD festivals include Peter Gabriel, Simple Minds, Crowded House, Macy Gray, De La Soul, and Echo and the Bunnymen.
The Glasgow event was set to showcase artists like Hollie Cook, Ustad Noor Bakhsh, and Peat and Diesel.
In a statement on WOMAD’s website, Glasgow Life expressed disappointment over the cancellation, attributing it to lower-than-expected ticket sales for the inaugural edition of WOMAD Glasgow. Affected customers will be refunded and offered discounted tickets for the 2026 event in North Wiltshire.
The decision was described as challenging, given the competitive market environment for large-scale events. The organizers apologized to ticket holders and thanked all supporters and collaborators involved in planning the festival.
Refunds for WOMAD Glasgow will be processed automatically within 7 working days.
