Poetry has always had a home at WOMAD.
This year, as part of their World of Words programme, we’re incredibly excited to join the return of the Hip Yak Poetry Shack to the festival’s new home at Neston Park… curated by Co-Director Liv Torc
Across four days, the Shack will host a rich programme of spoken word, performance, conversation and late-night absurdity featuring Simon Armitage, Vanessa Kisuule and Diz Undone alongside an incredible line-up including Bohdan Piasecki, Kate Fox, Elvis McGonagall, Francesca Beard, Testament, Jasmine Gardosi, Christian Foley, John McCullough and Edward Tripp, among many others.
Hosted throughout the weekend by Liv Torc, Jonny Fluffypunk and Chris Redmond, Hip Yak has long occupied a unique place within WOMAD… somewhere between cabaret, political meeting point, campfire gathering and after-hours salon. One moment deeply moving, the next completely unhinged.
Alongside headline performances, the return of the Anti Slam, the WOMAD Poetry Slam and family programming from Hot Poets continues a long tradition of creating spaces where audiences don’t just spectate, but participate.
Very excited to see this one come to life among the trees at Neston Park this summer.
📚 Part of World of Words at WOMAD 2026
