A music festival organized by former Genesis frontman Peter Gabriel has been canceled in Glasgow due to low ticket sales.
World of Music, Arts and Dance (WOMAD) was supposed to take place at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Park on July 3 and July 4, making its debut in the city. However, Glasgow Life, the event organizer, has decided to cancel it, citing financial unviability as the reason.
All ticket holders will receive full refunds and will be offered discounted tickets for the next event at Neston Park, North Wiltshire, from July 23 to 26.
WOMAD had promised to bring a diverse range of global music genres, including pop, dance, folk, jazz, and hip-hop, with both well-known and emerging artists set to perform in Glasgow this summer.
The festival has been held in 30 countries over the past three decades, featuring artists like Peter Gabriel, Simple Minds, Crowded House, Macy Gray, De La Soul, and Echo and the Bunnymen.
The Glasgow event was scheduled to showcase performers such as reggae singer Hollie Cook, instrumentalist Ustad Noor Bakhsh from Pakistan, and folk-rock trio Peat and Diesel.
In a statement on WOMAD’s website, it was expressed that despite positive feedback on the event’s program and vision, ticket sales did not meet the necessary threshold for sustainability in its inaugural year, reflecting the challenges of launching a new large-scale event in a competitive market.
Affected customers will be refunded and offered discounted tickets for the Neston Park event in North Wiltshire in July 2026. Refunds will be processed automatically within seven working days.