FASH seeks to encourage greater participation in folk activities and one way that this happens is through the many festivals around the country. Festivals are amazing; they usually have a diverse range of people, of all ages, enjoying themselves making music, singing, listening or dancing.

• May Heydays at Evesham 30th April - 3rd May 2027. Tickets now on sale via the website - you can book on-line or download a booking form to send in by email or post. A draft programme is on-line although subject to change, so they write "don't print it out yet". Note that the 2027 festival will not be able to run unless the organisers receive offers to help plan and arrange things.
  
  
• Upton-upon-Severn Folk Festival 30th April - 3rd May 2027. Camping is for up to 5 nights on a ticket with camping included.
  
  
• Whitchurch Folk Festival 9th May 2026. One day festival. Tickets available via the website - note that total numbers are limited so book early.
  
  
• Wolverton Folk and Blues Fair Wolverton Manor, IOW. 9th May 2026. Tickets on sale at several local shops or on the day, at the gate, at a slightly higher price. Fair bit of detail now on the website.
  
  
• Winchester Mayfest 16th May 2026. Free festival - lots of dance displays, some music/song events in St. Lawrence's Church.
  
  
• Chippenham Folk Festival 22nd - 25th May 2026. 'Earlybird' tickets now gone, on to "Super Spring Saver" prices saving £15 on a full ticket. Programme should be published soon.
  
  
• Wessex Folk Festival 30th and 31st May 2026. No entrance fees to Wessex Festival.
  
  
• Folk at the Wardrobe, Salisbury 6th June 2026.
  
  
• Wimborne Minster Folk Festival 12th - 14th June 2026. Headline concerts now announced. Tickets available via the website, by 'phone or in person at the Allendale Community Centre.
  
  
• Lichfield Folk Festival 19th - 21st June 2026. Programme online.
  
  
• New Forest Folk Festival 1st - 5th July 2026.
  
  
• Romsey Beggars Fair 11th July 2026. Free one-day festival. Lots of dancers and stage events.
  
  
• Warwick Folk Festival 23rd – 27th July 2026.
  
  
• Wickham Festival 30th July - 2nd August 2026.
  
  
• Sidmouth Folk Week 31st July - 7th August 2026. Tickets now on sale; many options but there is a table listing what each option covers. Full week and weekend tickets available. Lots of information on the website; full programme due out in July.
  
  
• Fairport's Cropredy Convention 13th - 15th August 2026. Website live with lots of information; tickets can be purchased sevaral ways, but start on the website. Note that numbers are limited to 6500.
  
  
• Purbeck Valley Folk Festival 20th - 23rd August 2026.
  
  
• Found Festival 28th - 31st August 2026.
  
  
• Lyme Folk Weekend 28th - 31st August 2026.
  
  
• Wallingford Bunkfest 4th - 6th September 2026.
  
  
• Southdowns Folk Festival (Bognor Regis) 11th - 13th September 2026
  
  
• Swanage Folk Festival 11th - 13th September 2026. Some free events. Weekend tickets cover the evening concerts and workshops, no details yet. Tickets already on sale.
  
  
• Worthy Earth (Dummer) 18th - 20th September 2026. Combines folk music with talks and workshops in regenerative agriculture.
  
  
• Malmesbury Folk and Roots Festival Taking a break in 2026.

The list is far from exhaustive and there are many other festivals further afield. Most of the Folk Festivals in the UK are listed here. Sadly, EFDSS, who used to have a comprehensive list, no longer seem to be listing Folk Festivals.

All these festivals vary. Some are all about Morris dance displays with perhaps a ceilidh one evening, others are all about dancing, or listening to bands on stages. There are also festivals which have a wide range of workshops, dances, concerts and displays. Some festivals are in towns with hotel accommodation, others have camping.

If anyone cares to write about any other festivals, then it would be great. Please send them to the Editor or see our contacts page