What is WOW Global 24?

WOW Global 24 is a free online festival focused on women and girls, in response to the inequalities highlighted by Covid-19. Over the 24 hours, WOW Global 24 will build up a worldwide picture of the current global situation for girls and women as different groups of global leaders, community activists, girls and young women discuss the situation specific to them.

WOW Festivals are also places of warmth, inclusiveness and fun, and WOW Global 24 is no exception. It will be filled not just with serious intent but also with energetic spontaneous encounters, human connection, unexpected delights, adventure, levity of spirit, and laughter.

When is it?

This weekend - 27-28 June! It runs for 24 hours, starting at 10.30am UK time (BST). To find out what time it starts in your region, use this handy website.

The programme is designed so that when viewers are watching during daylight hours, events will be generated from the audience’s own part of the world.

How do I watch?

WOW Global 24 will be streamed live on this website and also on our YouTube channel.

You can choose to tune in to one of two channels – The Global Channel and The Local Channel – which will be streamed live and simultaneously over 24 hours.

Both channels will stay live on our YouTube channel after the festival, so you can catch up on anything you might have missed.

Can I see a schedule of events and speakers?

Read our latest news stories for updates on speakers (including legendary activist Angela Davis!). Schedules are also published on The Local Channel and The Global Channel event listings to help you plan your festival.

Do I need to book a ticket?

No - WOW Global 24 is free and accessible to anyone who is able to watch online or on a mobile device. It’s for people of all ages and backgrounds who can join at any point along the way. We recommend you sign up to our newsletter in advance though. If you would like to make a donation, please visit our supporters page.

Will there be music?

Yes! There will be music from amazing female musicians from around the world. Check out our overview of the WOW Sounds music programme. WOW Sounds will always be followed by a WOW Big Idea - a short film from our friends at With and For Girls, The Female Lead and Common Purpose.

What the difference between the two channels?

The Global Channel will feature transnational discussions and music from around the world. The channel will be in English and has been created by The WOW Foundation, with support from partners.

The Local Channel will feature content from places already part of the WOW movement – Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, India, the Middle East, Turkey, UK, the African Continent, Brazil, USA, and Australia and the Pacific. There will be conversation, performances, workshops and music, all delivered in local languages.

Will there be BSL sign language interpretation and captioning?

The Global Channel will feature BSL Interpretation by Performance Interpreting Ltd (first 12 hours only), and captioning in English by My Clear Text and Stagetext (full 24 hours). You can also watch through our YouTube channel to turn on automatic captions.

What language will it be in?

The main language for the Global Channel will be English, and the languages featured on the Local Channel will reflect the region represented at that time.

What about the WOW Marketplace?

Yes! For WOW Global 24 we'll be taking the WOW Marketplace online for the first time ever. There will be social enterprises and businesses from around the world, as nominated by WOW Festivals. Plus we're so excited to be working with Janet's List - a platform that helps buyers discover independent brands by Black women and women of colour from the UK. The Marketplace will showcase the extraordinary entrepreneurial work of up and coming Black and women of colour led initiatives and collectives and provide a platform for social enterprises, collectives and organisations focusing on the six WOW Global 24 themes. Check it out here.

What are the main themes of WOW Global 24?

The overarching theme will be ‘Women and Girls in a Time of Crisis’, as an urgent and timely response to the inequalities exacerbated by Covid-19 and highlighted through Black Lives Matter.

The Global Channel will structure all of its conversations around six themes: EDUCATION, JUSTICE, CLIMATE, HEALTH, THE ECONOMY and VIOLENCE.

What partners are involved in WOW Global 24?

WOW Global 24 has been created by The WOW Foundation alongside WOW - Women of the World Festivals and partners from around the world. You can see the full list of producing partners on our Festival page.

How is WOW Global 24 funded?

WOW Global 24 has been created by The WOW Foundation and partners around the world. WOW is a registered charity that depends on financial support from a variety of individuals, companies and Trust & Foundations. You can see the full list of supporters on our Partners page.

How can I donate to WOW Global 24?

WOW Global 24 is produced by The WOW Foundation, which is a registered Charity. We depend on the generosity of our donors to keep our work free and accessible. Find out further ways to support The WOW Foundation on our supporters page.

Are there other ways to support WOW and the festival?

Even if you can’t make a financial contribution at this time, there are many ways you can still play a vital part in WOW’s global movement. Please sign up to our newsletter to stay updated on all of WOW’s activities and tell people about the festival on your social channels.