WOMAD New Zealand is the Aotearoa edition of the globally recognised World of Music, Arts and Dance festival. Staged in New Plymouth at the Bowl of Brooklands and Brooklands Park, it brings together international and local artists for a multi-day celebration of music, creativity, ideas, food and cultural exchange. The event is widely regarded as one of the country’s most distinctive large-scale arts festivals.
Alongside its diverse music programme, WOMAD Aotearoa is known for creating a broader cultural experience. Festival-goers can move between major performances, artist workshops, talks, food experiences and spaces such as Te Paepae, which highlights indigenous knowledge, wellbeing and cultural connection. This combination of global programming and place-based identity gives the festival a character that feels both international and strongly rooted in Taranaki.
For many attendees, WOMAD is not simply a concert weekend but an immersive festival environment. The park setting, the mix of artforms and the emphasis on curiosity and discovery make it one of the most memorable annual events in New Zealand’s festival landscape, appealing to visitors who want music, culture and atmosphere in equal measure.