The WOMEX 15-17 Official Host City Candidates are:

- Barcelona (Spain)
- Budapest (Hungary)
- Cardiff (UK)
- Dublin (Ireland)
- Gothenburg (Sweden)
- Poznan (Poland)
- Thessaloniki (Greece)
- Vienna (Austria)
- Warsaw (Poland)

In total WOMEX received bids from over twenty European cities for the 2015-2017 editions. Daniela Teuber, WOMEX Director of Production, comments: "As WOMEX is such a multifaceted international event, including elements such as a Showcase Festival, Trade Fair, Conference and Film Screenings, many different aspects had to be taken into consideration when compiling the shortlist." The next stage of the process is site visits to the shortlisted cities.