WOMADelaide has announced the trailblazing Grace Jones as its headliner for the 2026 festival with a performance on 7 March.

Now 77 , the legendary Jamaican singer, actress and model is renowned for her avant-garde approach to music and fashion. Rising to prominence in the 70s club scene, she was a muse to artists including Andy Warhol and Yves Saint Laurent and has recently collaborated with Beyoncé and Gorillaz. Jones will also tour to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Grace Jones. Photo © Andrea Klarin

“We are delighted to have the one and only Grace Jones join us for WOMADelaide. She is guaranteed to bring a thrilling and memorable energy to the 2026 festival,” said WOMADelaide director Ian Scobie.

With the announcement of Jones, the full program for WOMADelaide has now been announced, featuring more than 600 artists from 38 countries. From 6 to 9 March, the festival brings a collection of diverse international and Australian acts onto the stage in Adelaide.

Åkervinda. Photo © Angelica Hvass

Swedish all-female vocal quartet Åkervinda marks its debut Australian tour with an appearance at WOMADelaide, presenting a program of Scandinavian folk tunes. American hip hop group Arrested Development also makes an exclusive Adelaide appearance, as does Malian vocalist Oumou Sangaré.

Canadian instrumental group BADBADNOTGOOD, New Zealand artist Marlon Williams, Moroccan group Asmâa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou, Italian pop singer Jovanotti and Nigerian singer Obongjayar are also on the globe-spanning bill.

In collaboration with Japanese hip hop artists Kojoe and Hikaru Tanaka, the Australian Art Orchestra presents Raw Denshi on 7 March. The 2020 album from Artistic Director Aaron Choulai is reimagined for the Orchestra’s forces in an examination of the intersection between Australian and Japanese contemporary language and culture.

Brazilian-born, Melbourne-based composer Alcides Neto (a recent recipient of an Export Development Fund) makes his Adelaide debut with a six-piece band.

Other Australian artists taking the stage for the festival include rock icons Yothu Yindi, singer-songwriter Troy Cassar-Daley (performing with a string quartet), rappers Barkaa and Baker Boy, improvising trio The Necks and psych rockers The Lazy Eyes.

“Few festivals in the world are able to showcase the breadth and diversity of music, arts and dance from across the globe, especially on such a large scale, while appealing to audiences of all ages and tastes,” said Scobie.

“WOMADelaide is a glorious opportunity to discover new sounds that are soon to be favourites and embrace artists you love.”

More about WOMADelaide’s 2026 program can be found here.