World Groove Festival 2025 - CANCELLED
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
Statement on the Postponement of World Groove Festival
It’s with a heavy heart that we share this news: World Groove Festival, originally scheduled for Saturday 27th September 2025 at Reading Minster, will be postponed until further notice.
Despite the incredible energy and passion behind this event — from the artists, the team, and our community — lower-than-expected pre-sale numbers, combined with the realities of being a fully self-funded festival, mean we have not reached the minimum financial target required to proceed with confidence this year.
This was not an easy decision. Every detail of this festival — especially the line-up — was curated with care and intention. We truly believed this would be a spectacular, spirit-lifting day for the town and a celebration of global music, community, and connection. To not share it with you all, at least for now, is heart-breaking.
We want to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who’s supported us so far — especially the phenomenal artists who believed in this vision, our volunteers, our partners, and everyone who bought a ticket or helped spread the word. Your support means more than we can say, and as a gesture of goodwill, we’ll still be awarding our raffle prize as planned — we’ll be announcing and contacting the winner shortly.
If you’ve already bought a ticket, you’ll be contacted shortly regarding a full refund.
This is a postponement — not a goodbye. We still believe in this festival’s power to bring people together, and we’re exploring ways to make it happen in the future, with the right support behind it.
With warmth and gratitude,
The World Groove Festival Team
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Come join us on a journey around the globe at the World Groove Festival 2025 for a night of non-stop world music, dance, and fun!
Get ready to groove to the beats of a range of international artists from China, Ukraine, Uganda and more. Connect with fellow music lovers, celebrating the diversity and culture of the Reading community. Don't miss out on this epic celebration of global rhythms and good vibes. See you there!
The Line-Up:
- Headlining duo, Ganda Boys bring soulful, contemporary, emotional, Afro-fusion songs and chants - gandaboys.com and gandafoundation.co.uk
- 'Chichafrodelic' Imperio bamba create their own blend of Chicha, Afro-Peruvian and Psychedelic Rhythms - imperiobamba.com
- Virtuoso Cheng Yu delights with her Traditional Chinese Pipa (Lute) and Guqin (Zither) - chengyumusic.com
- Also joined by Persian Daf Drummers Diyaar, The Ukrainian Kryla Choir plus Balamuty & Zorya Dancers
- The event will be opened by the Mayor of Reading, who will also speak at the event
Tickets: Under 13s = FREE entry. Each adult ticket purchased online includes 1 FREE entry to our raffle.
Raffle: Prizes include; a free night at the luxurious Premier Suites; a free guitar lesson with "PlayTheGuitar.co.uk" Pete Doyle; a bottle of bubbly; and more...!
Drinks: Beverages, including alcoholic ones, will be on sale at the onsite bar. CARD ONLY transactions.