Bristol Folk Festival

About

Bristol Folk Festival returns with a breath-taking line-up of UK and world artists for the May Bank Holiday weekend, from 1 - 3 May 2026.

This year's lineup features The Unthanks, Ye Vagabonds, The Breath, John Smith, Honeyfeet and Sam Sweeney.

2026 Lineup

Fri 1 May
Late Night Folk
Shovel Dance Collective
The Staves
Tamsin Elliott Trio

Sat 2 May
Âellin
The Breath
Ellie Gowers
Festival Ceilidh
John Smith
Late Night Folk
Lisa Knapp & Gerry Diver
Robbie Cavanagh
Sam Sweeney Trio
The Unthanks
Ye Vagabonds

Sun 3 May
Amadou Diagne
Kit Hawes & Aaron Catlow
Malin Lewis
Ranagri
Ríoghnach Connolly & Honeyfeet
Vulva Voce

What is Bristol Folk Festival

This festival is a three-day celebration of Bristol and the South West's thriving folk scene.

What to expect at Bristol Folk Festival 2026

Prepare to sing and dance along across a range of venues over the May Day Bank Holiday. This year, the main venues are St George’s Bristol, Bristol Beacon (Main Hall), Bristol Folk House, Bristol Cathedral, Arnolfini & The Architect.

Dates, times & locations

Dates: Friday 1 May - Sunday 3 May 2026
Times: Vary by event
Locations: St George’s Bristol, Bristol Beacon, Bristol Folk House, Bristol Cathedral, Arnolfini & The Architect.

Tickets and booking information

Several ticket types are available for the festival:

• Weekend Ticket - guaranteed access to all of the St George’s shows, and to Bristol Beacon, plus access to the events at Bristol Folk House & The Architect (subject to capacity). You will be given a wristband when you first arrive at the festival.
• Day + Night Tickets - access to all shows at St George’s on the day in question. You will be given a wristband when you arrive at the festival.
• Day Tickets - access to just the afternoon shows at St George’s, while Night Tickets give you access to just the evening shows at St George’s.
• Late Night Folk Tickets - access to all the artists at The Architect. Doors open at 9 pm & the music goes on til 12.30 am. With the venue closing at 1 am.
• Individual Concert Tickets - access to that concert.

Book tickets now

Frequently asked questions

When is Bristol Folk Festival 2026?

This year's festival takes place from 1 - 3 May 2026, over the early May bank holiday weekend.

Are child tickets available?

A limited number of Child tickets will be made available for the Saturday Day & Sunday Day concerts for under 16s.

Where can I park for the Festival?

We recommend travelling to the festival on foot, by public transport or by taxi. You can plan your journey using the TravelWest website. If you do need to travel by car, please note that there are no venue car parks. However, if you do need to travel by car, we recommend Trenchard Street car park for St George’s Bristol, Bristol Beacon & Bristol Folk House, or The Grove car park for Arnolfini & The Architect.
 

Concerts & gigs in Bristol

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