Festival called off as plans to move are announced

Organisers of a music festival have announced it is moving sites and will not take place in 2025.

World of Music, Arts and Dance Festival (WOMAD) has taken place at Charlton Park near Malmesbury, Wiltshire, for the past 17 years. The festival has been running for 42 years.

Organisers said the annual event will take a break next year so it can return "fully charged" in 2026.

More information regarding the new site will be revealed in the next few weeks, they added.

The new location will be "not far" from the existing site, according to the organisers.

In a statement, they said: "WOMAD, like many festivals and events, has seen some challenges post Covid and we are now engaged in the process of re-evaluating, regenerating and reinvigorating everything we do and where we want to go in the future."

Over the next 12 months, WOMAD festivals will be held around the world, including in Australia, New Zealand and Spain.

Beyond music, the festival is also known for its workshops and children's activities.

The organisers thanked staff at Charlton Park and residents in the surrounding area for making the team feel welcome over the past 17 years.

They described the festival as a "treasure" and a "vital contribution" to bringing communities together from all over the world.