WOMADelaide has been forced to make schedule changes as five acts cancel due to travel restrictions stemming from the escalating Middle East conflict. The festival confirmed on Wednesday that Alfio Antico & Go Dugong, Asmâa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou, Bhutan Balladeers, and Stan's Café Theatre Company — The Commentators are unable to travel to Australia. A fifth act, Sama' Abdulhadi, cancelled on Thursday.
Over 20,000 flights have been cancelled since the US and Israeli air war against Iran intensified over the weekend. A plane carrying 200 Australians from Dubai landed in Sydney on Wednesday, one of 60 flights from the UAE that day. The next flight from the Middle East is expected to arrive in Sydney on Friday from Abu Dhabi.
WOMADelaide festival director Ian Scobie said logistical challenges have been immense due to the conflict. He expressed gratitude to the team and artists who found new routes to ensure performances reach Adelaide. Italian act Alfio Antico & Go Dugong stated they were unable to find a safe alternative route after their Dubai stopover became impossible.
