UK Folk Festivals - Coming Soon

First time we've listed this, but we like a bit of variety, and it's not only Irish events that are teaching sessions.

A weekend long family friendly music learning camp. Covers Banjo, Guitar fiddle, and others

Singers and musicians, street entertainers and Morris dancers - it seems that anybody and everybody who enjoys folk music heads for Warwick in July each year.

Since its humble beginnings in 1979, the annual Warwick Folk Festival has developed into one of the most highly regarded folk events on the national and international scene, attracting fans from all over Britain and as far afield as the USA and Australia

Not much info on the site yet.

THE World Music event.
International music resonates throughout the grounds, bounces off trees in the Arboretum, whirls through the green arena and dashes across acres of beautiful grass land which becomes the camping grounds during the last weekend in July. It is truly a unique event and we suggest you come along and experience the beauty for yourself.

The festival supports several charities.

A fair number of morris related sides, workshops, music sessions, headline gigs, ceilidhs and barn dances, performance and story telling, artisans, a children's area and loads more are already booked.

This is a boutique folk festival with a maximum of 500 people on site, organised by a volunteer committee - musicians, artists, craftspeople, hard-workers - whose ambition is simply to put on a memorable weekend to shine a spotlight on local culture.

Main days are Friday and Saturday, with Sunday a relax and chill day with a few performances around lunchtime , and impromptu fireside sessions in the evening.

EDF is working in conjunction with charitable and educational bodies to identify emerging talent on the island and to give them a platform to perform. There will also be opportunities to learn about digital media, the Gaelic language and to listen to local and visiting musicians.

EDF is about a lot more than just the music. We will also be showcasing "Made in the Hebrides" products.

For half a century the Guiting Music Festival has been a highlight of the Cotswolds summer calendar, bringing an exciting variety of highly talented performances of Classical, Jazz, Blues and Folk music by artists from around the world. In that time it has built up a strong band of very loyal supporters.

Check through their programme to see what parts you like.

At the end of July, the playing fields on East Street in the Moray town of Fochabers will be home to the 23rd annual Speyfest, three days of the best in traditional and contemporary Celtic music.

Concerts, Ceilidhs and Stomps. Free to enter Craft Fair and Festival Clubs. Some of the biggest names from the world of traditional and contemporary Celtic music.

The Festival is a unique celebration, bringing together outstanding traditional singers from Scotland, England, and Ireland. The event is especially for those who like to hear, enjoy, and join in unaccompanied traditional singing. Essentially informal, friendly and non-competitive, it will be just the place to encourage the young and less experienced as well as the old hands. The weekend includes ceilidhs featuring the guest singers, singarounds for everyone who can join in, workshops, craft demonstrations and a talk.

Ireland's Biggest Community Festival.
Music, Comedy, Talks, Tours, Theatre, Debate, Family, Community and more.

Quite a variety of events, some of which will be popular with folk fans. You'll have to check the program to find them.

200 events

The Summer School’s team of tutors is made up of internationally renowned performers with proven track records as teachers and educationalists. Beginner instrument classes, Whistle & Sing, Traditional Singing, Amhránaíocht, Sean-Nós Dancing and Set Dancing are suitable for all levels, including beginners. All other classes are designed for intermediate to advanced (minimum 2 years instrument experience) adults and children over 6 years of age.

Masterclass places are available to book now, visit belfasttradfest.com for the full list of classes and confirmed tutors.

There's a lot going on at this event!
Take a good look at the site to see for your self.
Events include a festival village, pipe band extravaganza, concerts, ceilis and more. A family friendly celebration of St Patrick, and traditional music, song and dance.

Summer School of traditional music, during Belfast UNESCO City of Music.

The masterclass includes expert tuition for the world's best traditional musicians, learning environment for all ages and abilities, access to a full program of afternoon sessions, ceilis, lectures, talks workshops and more.

Yn Chruinnaght Celtic Gathering.

49th year!

Based in Peel, Yn Chruinnaght Celtic Gathering is a celebration of Manx
culture and the relationship between the Isle of Man and the other five
Celtic countries (Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany).

Musicians, singers and dancers!! Concerts, ceilis, sessions, free events and workshops.

As in previous years we are posting this under Scotland and Ireland due to its Celtic theme, as we don't have a separate Isle of Man page.

Yn Chruinnaght Celtic Gathering.

49th year!

Based in Peel, Yn Chruinnaght Celtic Gathering is a celebration of Manx
culture and the relationship between the Isle of Man and the other five
Celtic countries (Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany).

Musicians, singers and dancers!! Concerts, ceilis, sessions, free events and workshops.

As in previous years we are posting this under Scotland and Ireland due to its Celtic theme, as we don't have a separate Isle of Man page.

Describes itself as quirky. Has quite a variety of styles of music, some of which may appeal to you. Large number of acts, including folk groups.
Vote the UK's most popular summer music festival at TripAdvisor, so it's clearly doing something right.

Boutique Festival with only 3000 tickets available. Headline Acts - often some of the biggest names!

Set in beautiful Kent just 5 mins from J5 on M2.

All genres of music but have a particular passion for Folk Rock, Folk, Roots and Acoustic music, which is the main genre of the Acts booked, but Folk as you may not expect!

Based in beautiful Kent country, but just 5 minutes from J5 of the M2, Chickstock Festival is building on previous years' 'magical' festival of folk, roots and acoustic music, with even more bands booked for this year!

Variety of music styles, includes some top folk acts.

Concerts, workshop, dance displays, craft fairs, sessions. Lots of things to keep you entertained.

There will be a good selection of food and drink including a great choice of real ales at the main venue. Some excellent village pubs, wine bars, restaurants, shops and bistros, all within easy walking distance of the main venue. There are also some lovely village and riverside walks around Wickham plus the historic Chesapeake Mill and Water Gardens that are well worth a visit

A place where art, intellectualism and fantastic gastronomy share equal billing with music.

A festival covering many different media - music, film, talks - all on a variety of genres. The London Folk Guild brings the very best in folk, blues, acoustic, Americana, bluegrass, roots and country from the UK and around the world.

Winner of several Festival awards.

Folk music. Shanty singing. Pirates. Food and drink.

That should keep a lot of people happy!

For the 72nd Time !

Sidmouth Folk Festival is a unique week-long seaside celebration of music, dance and song taking place in the charming East Devon regency coastal resort. A must in every festival goer's annual diary. There has been a folk festival in Sidmouth in the first week of August every year since 1955, attracting tens of thousands of visitors to over 700 diverse events with a promise of something for everyone, from major league concerts to small intimate sessions, from ceilidh dancing to lively roots parties, from family entertainment to youth-centred masterclasses, from social dance to colourful dance displays.

This will be the 29th Event!

The Festival has entertained locals and visitors every August Bank Holiday Weekend. This year will be one of the biggest and best festivals to date. We have music for all generations from Folk to Country. There will be loads of street entertainment through out the days with lots of activities for all the family.

Site not fully updated on our last visit.

Cambridge Folk Festival had a year off -now they are back, though only for two days this time.

Site still being updated when we visited.

A festival set in the ancient market town of Melton Mowbray. With Craft fair, local market, Morris Dancing, sing-arounds, music session, outdoor market stage and 13 venues collected around its atmospheric center. Two days of music and mayhem so if you fancy playing or just want to eat the pie - come to Melton Folk Festival.

The BIG one!
Site not fully developed on our last visit.
And tricky to navigate.

The National Eisteddfod of Wales is one of the great festivals of the world, attracting over 160,000 visitors every year. An eclectic mixture of culture, music, visual arts and all kinds of activities for people of all ages, there's something for everyone on the Maes during the first week of August every year.

The Eisteddfod is a travelling festival which belongs to the people of Wales.

This is a big fringe, over four evenings. Featuring a great line up, and it's all free!

All events in McBuzz's Barn.

The Fringe Sessions feature a mix of the most exciting emerging talent along with some established heavyweight favourites from across the UK and internationally. Entry is FREE to all music lovers but we have a donations bucket for the artists.

The music is an eclectic mix of many genres - and has included folk/roots, bluegrass, stomp, blues, acoustic, jazzfusion, world and indie rock/pop - plus everything in-between.

Now in its 16th year.

Featuring Music, Dance Song, Poetry, Story telling

The price is right - it's free.

Started in 1951 !

A week long event, featuring concerts, competitions, singing, walking tours, and lots more. There's even FleadhTV which will broadcast live from 8.30pm to 11.30pm over four nights from Thursday to Sunday on TG4 as well as live on tg4.tv and here on fleadhcheoil.ie

For the 39th Time!!

Visitors from all over the world come to a festival that now has international recognition.

Variety of events over a week-long festival.

An 11 day feast of visual art, classical music, theatre and dance, jazz world and traditional Irish music, literature, film, architecture, indie music, craft and children's events.

61st Anniversary in 2026

During Folk Week, life in Broadstairs really is set to music. In the parks, pubs, gardens and on the beaches and promenade- there really is a festival vibe in the town - nobody who arrives in Broadstairs during Folk Week wonders whether there is an event taking place - it's inescapable - in the best possible way!

This will be the 49th event...

The Dartmoor Folk Festival is a friendly traditional festival, with highlights including Ceilidh, Song & Music Sessions, Dartmoor Stepdance and Broomdance Championships, Dartmoor Fayre, Craft Displays, Dances, Music Hall, Sunday Ramble, Folk Service, Pub Sessions & Children's Events.PLUS - Craft tent, Sideshows, Demonstrations, Dance Displays, Children's Entertainers and much more...The festival continues to attract some of the top national and local artists as guests, maintaining its reputation as one of the top events in the folk calendar.

The HowthRootsandBluesFestival is a free music festival in Howth showcasing the best in Irish roots and blues artists.

While many of the artists are blues based the festival caters for fans of Country, Rhythm and Blues, Bluegrass, Americanna and reggae. Basically anything rootsy!!

The festival will take place across 6 local venues.

This year will see the 27th Saltburn Folk Festival take place in the historic, Victorian town of Saltburn.

An annual town based traditional and contemporary folk festival for all ages, with concerts, Street Entertainment, Singarounds, Music Sessions, Ceilidhs, Choirs, Maritime, Craft Stalls, Kids Events, Dance Teams, Workshops, Music Hall, Camping, Free Fringe Events.

A very focused festival, on piping.

Glasgow become the heart of the Piping world with events happening around the clock.

Lots of individual events spread over 7 days and 14 venues.

This is a roadshow, that occurs in several locations.

We've included a few of them, but if you want to see the whole list, remove the location in the url, and you go to the roadshow's own website.

A large event covering a large variety of music styles, in it's 13th year. The event is spread over several stages, and there is a folk section . Research it and make your own decision on whether it suits you. The line-up includes many well-known acts.

Famous reunion festival taking place in Oxfordshire, for the legendary Fairport Convention. And lots of guests.

There aren't many acts that run their own famous festival! And for over 50 years, so lookout for special surprize guests.

Tickets tend to sell out fast, so don't miss out.

A new one for our lists.
Site not fully updated on our last visit.

It will bring established artists in the Folk, World and Roots scene to perform alongside new and emerging acts, both locally and from around the country.

Not only will the festival have some of Scotland’s finest artists, it will showcase some of the best acts from the rest of the UK and overseas.

2022 was the first such event, and it was successful enough to stage its fifth event, for 2026.

Transatlantic folk trio, The Magpies, have announced that they will be hosting their first festival - in the stunning parkland of York's stately home, Sutton Park. The line-up is set to include the likes of Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys, Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra, Blair Dunlop and Katherine Priddy, with more exciting names to be announced.

A small, intimate, relaxed festival where there is an emphasis on creating an inclusive atmosphere and encouraging everyone to play a part in the weekend's events. There is plenty of opportunity to sing, play or tell a story with singarounds and music sessions every day.

As ever Ireland's unique Irish Traditional Music Festival will be headlined by Martin Hayes, the fiddler from East Clare, whose distinctive touch and extravagant virtuosity has brought the tradition to new levels. His famous trance-evoking sets with Dennis Cahill have mesmerised audiences all over the world.

A mixture of events whick includes a fair bit of acoustic music and ceilidhs, and traditional music.

Satisfying an ambition of the Festival to showcase the very best in traditional and contemporary music worldwide whilst also displaying the region's cultural individuality through the talents of the local musicians of all ages.

A large independant event, with a wide range of artists, and genres, more than 100 acts playing indie, psychedelia, Americana, and folk across 5 stages. Food stalls and a bar will be open in the evening. Many different themes.

Check to see if it matches your tastes.

Supports the Bevan Foundation as well.

Purbeck Folk Festival in the rolling hills of Dorset.

Located on a little sheep farm and in its fifth year, it's "how festivals used to be" - friendly, great for kids and adults alike, and small enough to be able to wander around and not lose your friends. Purbeck Folk Festival covers the broader definition of folk music and you can hear music from all around the world; some deep and meaningful, some get up and jump around.

Not to be confused with the nearby Swanage festivals

Beautiful Days is the Levellers' annual 15,000 capacity family-friendly weekend camping festival at Escot Park, which started in 2003. It has a huge children's area in the centre of the festival, comedy, theatre, family camping, a healing area, licensed real ale bars from Otter Brewery & carefully selected food and craft stalls.

Chosen as one of the Best Family Festivals in 2013 by the Guardian

Note the NEW LOCATION for this, the 14th event.

This event has been going for around ten years now, in East Anglia (hence the name).

A fresh approach to a timeless tradition with an eclectic mix of contemporary and traditional music. Re-kindling the Eastfolk folkmoots on the Sotterley Hall Estate, where, for three days of the year, the folk of the East bring their families & gather for a bit of a to-do.

A not for profit family music and arts festival and although we don't call ourselves a folk festival the majority of our musical programming is folk, so we thought you might be interested.

Very family focused, with circus acts, music, films, children's entertainment.
Doesn't seem to like my pop-up box so click here instead to view their site.

The festival features some well known and talented main acts, plus local and national, up and coming artists.
A small friendly festival. Sing-a-rounds too.

Seven days of dancing in the streets, music and singing in the pubs, concerts and dances until late into the night, and a whole lot more. Seven days of meeting old friends and making new ones.

With over 600 events, this long-standing celebration of the traditional music, dance and song of the British Isles has taken on the trappings of a tradition in its own right.

This is a roadshow, that occurs in several locations.

We've included a few of them, but if you want to see the whole list, remove the location in the url, and you go to the roadshow's own website.