WOW – Women of the World

WOW – Women of the World was founded by Jude Kelly in 2010, when the first WOW Festival took place at the Southbank Centre in London. 

Since then, WOW has staged more than 100 festivals and events in 45 locations across six continents. The festivals celebrate women, girls and non-binary people, taking a frank look at what prevents them from achieving their potential, and raising awareness globally of the issues they face and possible solutions. 

Since 2016 we have worked in partnership with The WOW Foundation to support activity across South Asia (Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka), Southern Europe (Turkey, Greece), the Americas (Brazil) and the UK (London, Manchester).

WOW festivals are open to people of all genders and bring together artists, writers, politicians, comedians and activists, providing a safe space for dialogue and enabling women and girls to share their stories and challenge attitudes. 

With co-creation at their heart, the festivals support locally-led ownership to reach new audiences, places and partners. Events include short talks, performances, activism, food, music, WOW Speed Mentoring, workshops and WOW Marketplaces.