Just sneaking in before mass event restrictions and social lockdowns brought on by the COVID-19 global pandemic, WOMADelaide 2020 was a euphoric four days of perfect festival weather, with crowds surpassing the 2018 record of 96,000 attendances.

The Cat Empire’s 6th show at the festival was, as usual, rapturously received. Mali’s Salif Keita delivered a stunning and fitting farewell to his 50 years of touring the globe on the Saturday night, and on the Sunday night, Samba-rock king Jorge Ben Jor brought a delightfully high-energy set of classic tracks.  On the closing Monday evening, the inspirational Mavis Staples was a highlight and Australian singer-songwriter Matt Corby closed the Foundation Stage as an (extremely last minute) replacement for Ziggy Marley.

Powerful moments were shared with Australia’s Spinifex Gum, the stunning contemporary dance piece, Floating Flowers by Taiwan’s B.DANCE and the 4-metre tall puppets of Company Archibald Caramantran danced with young and old across the park.

“WOMADelaide 2020: uplifting, political and expansive festival offers hope amid the doom” - The Guardian 

“WOMADelaide helps us understand our complex, beautiful, challenging world” - Dan Condon, Double J

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WOMADelaide 2020

WOMADelaide 2020 Lineup

Music & Dance
  • Aldous Harding (NZ)
  • Artefactum (Spain)
  • Bill Callahan (USA)
  • The Blind Boys of Alabama (USA)
  • Briggs (Australia)
  • The Cat Empire (Australia)
  • Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita (Wales / Senegal)
  • Circolombia (Colombia)
  • Deline Briscoe (Australia)
  • Destyn Maloya (Reunion)
  • Dr Piffle & The Burlap Band (Australia)
  • Dyson Stringer Cloher (Australia)
  • Echo Drama (Australia)
  • Ezra Collective (UK)
  • B.DANCE – Floating Flowers (Taiwan)
  • Flor de Toloache (Mexico / USA)
  • Gelareh Pour’s Garden (Iran/Australia)
  • General Levy (UK)
  • Greg Wilson (UK)
  • Hiatus Kaiyote (Australia)
  • Iberi (Georgia)
  • Ifriqiyya Electrique (Maghreb / Europe)
  • Jorge Ben Jor (Brazil)
  • Kate Miller-Heidke (Australia)
  • Kathryn Joseph (Scotland)
  • KermesZ a l’Est (Belgium)
  • Kikagaku Moyo (Japan)
  • Kim So Ra (South Korea)
  • King Ayisoba (Ghana)
  • Late Nite Tuff Guy (Australia)
  • Laura Marling (UK)
  • Liniker e os Caramelows (Brazil)
  • Los Amigos Invisibles (Venezuela)
  • Luisa Sobral (Portugal)
  • Marina Satti & Fones (Greece / Sudan)
  • Matt Corby (Australia)
  • Maubere Timor (East Timor)
  • Mavis Staples (USA)
  • Minyo Crusaders (Japan)
  • Misstress Barbara (Italy / Canada)
  • Ngaiire (PNG / Australia)
  • Odette (Australia)
  • Oisima (Australia)
  • Orang Orang Drum Theatre – LanguKu & The Memories (Malaysia)
  • Orquesta Akokan (Cuba / USA)
  • Party Dozen (Australia)
  • Public Opinion Afro Orchestra (Australia)
  • Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi (USA / Italy)
  • RURA (Scotland)
  • Salif Keita (Mali)
  • Sleaford Mods (UK)
  • SO.Crates (Australia)
  • Spinifex Gum (Australia)
  • Sprigga Mek (PNG)
  • Stellie (Australia)
  • Dr. L Subramaniam (India)
  • Super Rats (Australia)
  • Tami Neilson (NZ / Canada)
  • Thandi Phoenix (Australia)
  • Themba (South Africa)
  • Trio Da Kali (Mali)
  • True Vibenation (Australia)
  • Tuuletar (Finland)
  • Ustad Saami (Pakistan)
  • William Barton & Veronique Serret (Australia)
  • Ziggy Marley (Jamaica) - cancelled
Site & Roving Artists
  • Company Archibald Caramantran (France)
  • Craig Walsh – MONUMENTS (Australia)
  • Foco al Aire – (Mexico) - cancelled
  • Gravity & Other Myths – A Simple Space (Australia)
  • MOD – Feeling Human (Australia)
  • Northern Sound System Bedroom Studio (Australia)
  • Wired Aerial Theatre – As the World Tipped (UK)
  • 1.5 Degrees Live! (Various)
The Planet Talks
  • Bernie Hobbs (Australia)
  • Christiana Figueres (Costa Rica)
  • Damon Gameau (Australia)
  • Danny Eckert (Australia)
  • Deb Tribe (Australia)
  • Doha Khan (Australia)
  • Fran Kelly (Australia)
  • Greg Roach (Australia)
  • Harriett O’Shea Carre (Australia)
  • Jan Fran (Australia)
  • Jill Dorrian (Australia)
  • Jules Schiller (Australia)
  • Julia Powles (Australia)
  • Kit Warhurst (Australia)
  • Marc Fennell (Australia)
  • Michelle Lim (Australia)
  • Milou Albrecht (Australia)
  • Patricia Karvelas (Australia)
  • Peter Lewis (Australia)
  • Rebekha Sharkie (Australia)
  • Robert Elliott Smith (USA) - cancelled
  • Sabra Lane (Australia)
  • Sandy Verschoor (Australia)
  • Sarah Hanson-Young (Australia)
  • Tim Ross (Australia)
  • Tory Shepherd (Australia)
  • Will Steffen (Australia)
KidZone
  • Story Time w/ Justine Clark
  • Silent Disco w/ Guru DuDu
  • The Talking Trees
  • Marty McBubble
  • SA Museum Explorers Tent
  • Evelyn Roth’s Nylon Zoo
  • Climbing Tree's Nature Village
  • City Libraries Book Nook
  • Uncle Stevie’s Kaurna Classroom