The award-winning Orkney Folk Festival opens today, Thursday, for the 43rd edition of the event. More than 8,400 tickets have already sold for the four-day island festival.
Orkney Folk Festival is one of Scotland’s longest-running folk festivals. Leading artists from the USA, Canada, Finland, Ireland, England and throughout Scotland are joining home-grown Orcadian musicians as part of the 52 acts appearing at the festival this year.
This year’s furthest travelled acts have crossed the Atlantic. California’s Kenneth Pattengale, one half of The Milk Carton Kids, returns to the stage solo for the first time in 16 years, and is making his debut Orkney appearances.
Louisiana’s Dirk Powell and Cedric Watson are joining forces with Dirk’s daughter, Amelia Powell, to bring their Cajun, Creole and Old Time Appalachian influenced sound.
Meanwhile, Damn Tall Buildings, are bringing their seamless harmonies and captivating solos to Orkney from Brooklyn for the first time.
Canada is also represented at the festival by three quarters of the legendary Cape Breton band Beòlach. Wendy MacIsaac, Mairi Rankin and Mac Morin are combining forces having all played at the festival as part of different line ups over the last 20 years.
Finnish group, Polenta, are bringing their Fenno-Scandinavian influenced music to this year’s event, following the recent release of their third album.
Closer to home, audiences can look forward to seeing both of Scotland’s acclaimed fiddle supergroups, Blazin’ Fiddles and Session A9, in the same weekend.
The Scottish electronica group Elephant Sessions are also returning to the festival for some high energy performances.
The event will also welcome virtuoso musicians from the Scottish Highlands. Duncan Chisholm will appear in a four-piece line up alongside Ross Ainslie, Hamish Napier and Sorren Maclean.
Anna Massie is also appearing in solo sets alongside her performances with Blazin’ Fiddles, following the release of her second album in 2024. Anna will also be broadcasting live from the festival this evening, as BBC Radio Scotland’s flagship folk programme, Travelling Folk, returns to the event.
The Highlands are further represented by the duo of Gary Innes and Ewen Henderson, who are celebrating 20 years of touring and performing together. They’re joined by special guest Rory Matheson, who is also performing as part of his new Scottish dance band, featuring Orkney’s own Kristan Harvey.
The festival is welcoming two Irish acts: fiddle and piano duo, Fergal Scahill, known for his work with We Banjo 3, and Ryan Molloy; alongside acclaimed singer-songwriter Gráinne Hunt.
English singer-songwriters, John Smith, and Katie Spencer, are also joining the festival’s 2026 line up.
Last year’s BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year, and the youngest ever recipient of the Scots Trad Music Awards’ Scots Singer of the Year, Ellie Beaton is featuring in events.
The 2015 recipient of the Young Trad award, Scots singer, Claire Hastings, also makes a welcome return to the festival to lead her popular Claire’s Music Club workshops, offering interactive fun for under fives and their families.
Old Blind Dogs, who have received recognition as part of the Scots Trad Music Awards Hall of Fame also join the line up, alongside two newer acts: harp and fiddle duo, Rebecca Hill and Charlie Stewart; and Scottish group, Meallan, featuring Orkney fiddler, Kirsty Harrison.
Orcadian teenagers Auskerry are returning to the festival for the third time, while The Chair bring their unique Viking berserker spirit to their regular Saturday stomp slot.
Audiences can also look forward to performances from Orkney’s Stoatfinger and festival regulars, Saltfishforty, among over 30 homegrown, Orcadian acts.
The 2026 programme features 53 events, including concerts, dances, stomps, lounge performances, workshops and family events, at venues across Orkney. It’s been designed to cater for all tastes, to celebrate both local and visiting artists, as well as contemporary and traditional folk music.
While more than half of all events will take place in the festival’s hometown of Stromness, performances are also planned in Birsay, Finstown, Harray, Holm, Hoy, Kirkwall, Orphir, Rousay, Stenness and Tankerness.
There’s still good availability for the events happening across Orkney between 21 and 24 May 2026. Live availability can be found online at https://orkneyfolkfestival.com/tickets.
In addition to the festival’s public programme, Orkney’s schoolchildren can look forward to experiencing performances from artists visiting the festival, while musicians will also entertain care home residents over the weekend. This includes the festival hosting, for the second year running, a full production community outreach event at the Pickaquoy Centre, bringing together more than 400 school pupils, plus adults with additional support needs.
The festival gratefully receives generous support from public bodies and corporate sponsors, from throughout the local and national business communities – without whom the festival could not exist. This year’s principal supporters are Orkney Islands Council, The National Lottery through Creative Scotland, and NorthLink Ferries, alongside a wide range of individual event sponsors.
The festival also benefits from many thousands of hours donated by hundreds of volunteers, who give their time freely to bring the world-renowned event together. From the year-round management committee and board, to those delivering individual events, each one of the festival’s community team is vital to its long standing, continued and increasing success.
Orkney Folk Festival Producer, Craig Corse said: “There’s always a real sense of anticipation in the final days before the festival begins. After a year of planning, there’s a unique mix of excitement and anticipating seeing venues being set up, artists arriving in Orkney, and the programme finally stepping off the page and into real life.
“What makes the festival special is the balance between welcoming internationally recognised artists and giving prominence to musicians from Orkney and across Scotland. This year’s programme feels particularly strong in that respect, with a real mix of established names, new collaborations and first-time visitors to the festival.
“We’re also hugely grateful to the volunteers, local communities, sponsors and venues who make it all possible. The festival has always been rooted in the support and enthusiasm of people here in Orkney – as both loyal audiences, and hosts for the thousands who join us for the long weekend. Seeing Stromness and the wider county filled with music over the weekend is something we never take for granted, and we can’t wait for the next few days ahead.”