WOW Festivals have taken place across Nepal: in Kathmandu in 2017 and 2018, followed by Janakpur in the south east of Nepal in 2019. Two virtual editions were hosted in 2020 and 2021, before being hosted at the historic Lumbini Park in 2022. WOW Nepal aims to raise awareness regarding gender and equality, build capacity and provide a voice and platform to women and girls and help them build allies.

WOW was held in Nepal for the first time in February 2017 at the Nepal Administrative Staff College, Lalitpur. The second edition of WOW was held in Kathmandu on 17 February at the Institute of Engineering (IOE) – Pulchowk Campus, Kathmandu.

In 2019 the festival was held in December at the ancient city of Janakpur. The edition focused on the Madhesh belt of Nepal which are ripe with gender equality-related issues and development work. WOW was held over two days in multiple venues of the city.

In 2020 the British Council organised a series of virtual programmes in the months between August and October. An assortment of programmes included panel discussions, one-on-one conversations, performances, virtual tours and book readings featuring Nepali women from different parts of the country and from different walks of life

In 2021 the digital programme encompassed the breadth of past physical Festivals. It also functioned as a follow-up to the conversations that were started in 2020 and 2019 in Janakpur.

WOW Lumbini took place on from 15-16 April 2022 in Lumbini Park, and featured workshops on financial independence, creating Illustrated stories and theatre. The hybrid multi-day event featured talks, performances, activism, workshops, food, music, mentoring, workshops and more.

WOW Nepal is produced by British Council, the UK’s cultural relations organisation, alongside a local production team. The British Council Builds connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries through arts and culture, education and the English language.

Stay up to date with WOW in Nepal here. You can also follow the British Council in Nepal on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.