Picture a dress-up tent, nature play under the Moreton Bay figs, and a silent disco snaking through the park. Meanwhile, the grown-ups grab a coffee and listen to Ukrainian folk drifting across the grass. That’s WOMADelaide with kids, and in 2027 the festival turns 35.
WOMADelaide returns to Botanic Park/Tainmuntilla from 5–8 March 2027, over the March long weekend. The first artist lineup has just dropped, and KidZone is confirmed. It promises to be “jam-packed with activities for the youngest festival-goers”. Here’s what families need to know.
What is WOMADelaide KidZone?
KidZone is WOMADelaide’s dedicated space for kids aged 12 and under. It’s a festival within the festival, with activities programmed every day especially for little ones. Best of all, once you’re through the gates, KidZone activities are free.
It’s the place to go when small festival-goers need something hands-on, or when everyone needs a break from the crowds at the main stages.
What’s on at KidZone?
The 2027 KidZone program is still under wraps. In past years, KidZone has included:
- Dress-ups and make-believe, including Evelyn Roth’s famous Nylon Zoo, with its giant, colourful creatures kids can crawl inside and wear.
- Nature play, with a dedicated tent for building, exploring and getting a bit grubby.
- Silent disco walking tours, where kids put on headphones and dance their way through the park.
- Art workshops for making, painting and crafting.
- Storytelling sessions in the shade.
- Science activities for curious minds.
- Dance workshops and performances nearby, including Polynesian dancing.
Activities run at different times each day, and some are scheduled sessions rather than drop-in, so check the WOMADelaide app or website before you go and plan around the ones your kids will love.
WOMADelaide tickets for kids
Kids 12 and under have traditionally gone free with a paying adult, but they still need their own ticket, booked in the same transaction as the adult’s. Some days have sold out early in past years, so it’s worth booking ahead.
Parent-friendly facilities
- Prams and strollers are welcome.
- A parenting room gives a shaded, quiet space for feeding and changing babies and toddlers.
- The festival is cashless, so bring a card.
Family highlights around the park
Some of the best WOMADelaide moments for kids happen outside KidZone, in the festival’s roaming Around the Park program.
Les Goulus – The Horsemen, Equicoaches and Cupids
The French street-theatre troupe Les Goulus is back with three hilarious, absurd interactive shows. Their oversized characters wander through the crowd causing mischief, and kids will be in fits of giggles.
Helios by Luke Jerram
Helios is a seven-metre replica of the sun that lights up the night sky. If your kids can push bedtime a little, this is the one to stay for.
Gravity & Other Myths and SAZ – Mortal Coil
Adelaide’s own world-famous acrobats join forces with SAZ from India. Gravity & Other Myths are known for their human towers and gravity-defying flips, so circus-mad kids will be wide-eyed.
Body Concert by Ambiguous Dance Company
This South Korean dance show is set up like a live music concert. It’s exuberant and joyful, and it shows what the human body can do with rhythm. It’s perfect for kids who can’t sit still.
Angine de Poitrine
The Canadian duo wears polka dots, tall papier-mâché masks and long, pointy noses while playing space-voyaging math-rock. The costumes alone will win the kids over.
Taste the World
In the Taste the World program, festival artists cook dishes from home and share the stories behind them. It’s a fun way for kids to explore other cultures through food.
Highlights for the grown-ups at WOMADadelaide 2027
WOMADelaide 2027 brings together artists from all over the world. The first announcement includes:
- Madness (UK), the ska legends.
- Underworld (UK), the electronic pioneers behind “Born Slippy .NUXX”.
- Leon Bridges (USA), the soul singer.
- Fatoumata Diawara (France), the Grammy-nominated Malian singer.
- Tinariwen (Azawad), the desert blues band.
- DakhaBrakha (Ukraine), returning favourites who blend Ukrainian folk with global sounds.
- Christine Anu (Australia), back at WOMADelaide for the first time since the 1990s.
- Dr L. Subramaniam (India), the violin virtuoso who played the very first WOMADelaide in 1992.
There are plenty of first-timers too, including Wild Wild Women, India’s first all-female rap group; Bhutan Balladeers, the first Bhutanese group to play the festival; Thai trance ensemble Khun Narin; Puerto Rican big band El Laberinto del Coco; and Turkish psychedelic rockers Altın Gün. Kids might hear music they’ve never heard before, and find a new favourite.
Tips for WOMADelaide with kids
- Set up a base. Bring a picnic rug and pick a meeting point near a landmark tree or stage.
- Teach kids what to do if they get lost. Write your mobile number on their arm, and show them how to find festival staff.
- Pack for March weather. Bring hats, sunscreen and water bottles for the day, plus a jumper for the evening.
- Protect little ears. Bring ear defenders for babies and noise-sensitive kids.
- Pick your sessions. Four days is a lot. Choose a day or evening that suits your family’s routine.
- Check the KidZone timetable. Plan around scheduled activities so you don’t miss the favourites.
WOMADelaide 2027
- When: Friday 5 – Monday 8 March 2027 (March long weekend)
- Where: Botanic Park/Tainmuntilla, Adelaide
- Kids: 12 and under have traditionally gone free with a paying adult
- Tickets: on sale now at womadelaide.com.au
- More artists: still to be announced
After 35 years, WOMADelaide is still one of the best family weekends on Adelaide’s calendar. We’ll update this guide as soon as the 2027 KidZone program lands. In the meantime, book your tickets and practise your silent-disco moves.
Last updated: October 2026. We’ll update this guide when the 2027 KidZone program is announced.