Our impact
Systemic inequality based on gender exists in every country in the world.
According to the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Gender Gap Report, it will take 134 years to achieve global gender equality – three years longer than in 2023. The United Nations projects an even longer journey of 286 years, based on progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality. No country has yet achieved full gender equality.
At the same time, we are witnessing an orchestrated rollback of rights in many parts of the world. That’s why the work of changing hearts and minds – of bringing new audiences and advocates into the movement – is more vital than ever.
This is WOW’s expertise. As artists, festival-makers and storytellers, we use creativity to make equality compelling and accessible. Through conversation, performance and celebration, WOW helps people engage with complex truths in ways that educate, uplift and, most importantly, inspire action.
And it works. 64% of people who attend a WOW event go on to take positive action — whether that’s in their families, workplaces, or on a national and international scale.
Since 2010, WOW has been activated around the world. In partnership with 33 delivery partners, we’ve delivered over 150 festivals and programmes across 71 places and six continents, engaging more than 5.3 million people. That’s 3.4 million people who’ve gone on to make change happen.
The Change We Create
People Power
We inspire people to take action – from small steps at home to bold moves that shift the dial globally. Every WOW Festival sparks real, lasting change.
Hearts and Minds
We create new advocates by welcoming new audiences, particularly those not yet engaged – including young people – into open, accessible spaces for discovery and dialogue.
Representation
WOW’s programming is intersectional and inclusive, connecting people with tools, ideas and communities that amplify collective action across the world.
Optimism
We build confidence in the belief that a gender-equal world is both necessary and achievable – and that everyone deserves equality.
Our Approach
We platform extraordinary people and powerful stories, knowing creativity and culture are transformative tools for individuals and communities.
We engage audiences at every stage of life, using the skills of creative producing to ensure everyone feels welcome, represented and involved.
We combine joy and celebration with resistance and truth, curating programmes shaped by women and non-binary people with lived experience in the places WOW calls home.
Our impact lives in our audiences – in the people who leave a WOW event inspired to act, advocate and drive change in their own lives and communities.
For the very first time, a favela-based organisation was able to curate, produce and deliver a large scale international festival at one of the most privileged and iconic areas of Rio de Janeiro.
WOW is almost single handedly responsible for enlivening the feminist movement in the UK at the beginning of the 21st Century.
WOW showcases the value of a movement that allows change to happen in a vast variety of different ways, with every contribution valuable. The cumulative effect is immensely powerful.
The WOW - Women of the World Festival changed my life. It was there, in 2015, that I met three extraordinary women with whom I went on to set up Girls Rock London, a charity that seeks to change the lives of women and girls through music. We wouldn’t be where we are without WOW - the space it creates; the platform it provides; the conversation it opens and the voice it connects.
84% believe a gender equal world is achievable, after attending WOW. Compared to 58% who had not attended.
77% feel more informed about issues and progress around gender equity as a result of WOW.
66% say WOW enabled them to make new connections which will make a material difference to their own journey with gender equity.
64% have been galvanised to take action and/or participate in other activities that will progress gender equity.
Latest news
WOW launches new partnership with Equimundo
Asim Chaudhry, Jameela Jamil and Big Zuu join WOW line-up
Nominations open for The Hope Brigade in the North East
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