WOMAD Aotearoa has unveiled its first artist announcement for 2027, bringing together an award-winning Kiwi shapeshifter, a Grammy-winning Tuareg band, and a genre-blending Pacific circus troupe for what's shaping up to be a genuinely diverse opening lineup.
The festival returns to its traditional home at the Bowl of Brooklands, Pukekura Park, Taranaki, running from 12 to 14 March 2027.
Troy Kingi Brings His Ambitious 10|10|10 Project to a Close
Leading the announcement is one of New Zealand's most celebrated musical talents, Troy Kingi, who will perform two distinct sets across the festival.
The first will celebrate the first nine albums of his ambitious 10|10|10 project, ten albums across ten different genres over ten years, performed alongside special guests.
The second set is where things get genuinely significant. Kingi will be joined by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra for a world-premiere performance marking the culmination of the entire 10|10|10 project, unveiling his tenth and final album in the series: 10|10|10 - THE FINAL CHAPTER WITH THE NEW ZEALAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
For an artist who built his reputation on genre experimentation, closing out a decade-long creative project with a full orchestra represents a fitting, large-scale finale.
Tinariwen Return With Nearly 50 Years of Musical Legacy
Joining Kingi is Tinariwen, a Grammy Award-winning Tuareg band that has represented Tuareg resistance and poetry through music since 1979.
The band's sound blends blues with Saharan musical traditions, a combination that has drawn admiration from artists as varied as Robert Plant and José González over the decades.
This won't be Tinariwen's first appearance in New Zealand. The band previously performed at WOMAD Aotearoa in 2018 and has appeared at WOMADelaide on four separate occasions. Nearly five decades into their career, the band remains focused on using their music, built around traditional drums, electric guitars and immersive storytelling, to raise awareness of the ongoing situation facing the Tuareg people.
Fijian Flying Circus Brings a World-First Pacific Fusion
Rounding out the initial announcement is the Fijian Flying Circus, a genuinely unique production combining Fijian storytelling with contemporary circus performance.
Created by respected Pacific dance company VOU, the group holds a notable distinction: it's the first and only homegrown circus company in the Pacific Islands, and has toured to more than 35 countries.
Festival-goers can expect a mix of circus and dance performance alongside storytelling and Fijian cultural workshops, offering an experience that blends physical spectacle with genuine cultural exchange.
Why This Lineup Reflects What WOMAD Is About
Event Director Drew James said the diversity across this first announcement is precisely the point.
"We are really proud to give New Zealanders a taste of what is to come for WOMAD Aotearoa 2027," James said, describing the lineup as featuring "an ambitious world-premiere of one of Aotearoa's distinctive artists with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra as backing band, a Grammy Award-winning African desert blues with an extraordinary musical legacy, and contemporary circus and dance from the Pacific."
He was clear that this breadth wasn't incidental.
"They're all very different, but that breadth is exactly what WOMAD is about, bringing exceptional artists, cultures and creative ideas together in one place," James said. "And this is only the first taste of what's to come."
More Still to Be Revealed
Organisers have confirmed this initial lineup is just the beginning, with further artists and experiences still to be announced ahead of the festival.
Event Details
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Event |
WOMAD Aotearoa 2027 |
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Dates |
12–14 March 2027 |
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Venue |
Bowl of Brooklands, Pukekura Park, Taranaki |
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Tickets |
On sale now at womad.co.nz |
Why This Announcement Matters
For a festival built specifically around the idea of bringing global music and culture together in one place, this first reveal delivers exactly on that promise, spanning a genre-hopping New Zealand artist closing out a decade-long project, a legendary international band with deep cultural significance, and a genuinely innovative Pacific circus company. With more announcements still to come, WOMAD Aotearoa 2027 appears set to continue the festival's reputation for pairing genuine musical ambition with cultural depth.
This article is based on a media release issued by WOMAD Aotearoa.
