A HUGE music festival which brings thousands of people to the area every summer has announced that it is leaving its current site.

WOMAD, founded in 1980 by rock musician Peter Gabriel, has revealed that it is leaving Charlton Park near Malmesbury, where it has been based for the last 17 years.

The international arts festival - which said it is 're-evaluating, regenerating and reinvigorating' - has also announced that it will take a year off next year.

The festival noted that its new location will be close to its present site.

In a statement, Mr Gabriel and the WOMAD team said: “After a hugely successful 42nd year, over which time we have put on over 300 festivals around the world, we are pleased to announce that WOMAD is moving to a new home, not far from our site for the past 17 years in Wiltshire.

“To ensure that the festival can continue to thrive for years to come in our new location, we have decided to take a year off in 2025 before returning fully charged in 2026.

“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.”

The arts festival said that it will be revealing new plans during the next few weeks.

“Over the next 12 months, we are full steam ahead with a number of WOMAD festivals around the world (including WOMADelaide, WOMAD New Zealand and WOMAD Cáceres), with plans for further events in Las Palmas, Brazil and Chile, as well as exploring a special UK event for next year to deliver a taste of the unique WOMAD experience - hopefully to be announced in the coming weeks,” Mr Gabriel and the team said.

“We want to send a massive thank-you to all of the brilliant staff at Charlton Park who made us feel welcome for the last 17 years, pulling us out of many sticky situations (quite literally, on those rainy weekends!),” they added.

“We couldn’t have done what we did without you.

“Also, to the fabulous community in Malmesbury, Charlton and all the surrounding villages for whom we created a few days of disruption each year, you have always responded positively and embraced WOMAD, welcoming us into your community and working with us in so many ways.

“Finally, thank you to all of the festival-goers, artists, crew, contractors, volunteers and traders who make WOMAD possible, a treasure in the festival calendar and a vital contribution to bringing communities together from all over the world to celebrate diversity and tolerance through music, arts, dance and culture.

“We look forward to welcoming you all to our new site in 2026.”