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.

We have several festivals in and around our area; for 2025, the dates we have are below. Where we know them, we have added in the dates for the 2026 events....

• May Heydays at Evesham 1st - 4th May 2026. 'Earlybird' tickets now on sale via the website - you can book on-line or download a booking form to send in by email or post. Full price after the end of January. 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. Deadline the end of January 2026.
  
  
• Upton-upon-Severn Folk Festival 1st - 4th May 2026. Lots of artists already announced on the website. Earlybird tickets will be avalable from 1st December '25 until the end of January. Camping is for up to 5 nights on a ticket with camping included.
  
  
• Whitchurch Folk Festival 9th May 2026. One day festival, main concerts line-up anounced, more details to follow. Tickets available via the website - note that total numbers are limited so book early.
  
  
• 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 "New Year Saver" prices saving £30 on a full ticket. Programme should be published soon.
  
  
• Wessex Folk Festival 30th and 31st May 2026. No entrance fees to Wessex Festival. Fund-raising ceilidh on the 27th February with 'Return of the Natives' ceilidh band and caller Teresa Williams.
  
  
• 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. Callers and bands announced, tickets now available - 'earlybird' prices until the end of March. Programme still to be announced although most of the callers and bands have been booked.
  
  
• New Forest Folk Festival 1st - 5th July 2026. Many of next year's line-up already announced. "Tier 3" tickets now available until the end of May, saving £10 on the full price.
  
  
• Romsey Beggars Fair 11th July 2026. Free one-day festival. Lots of dancers and stage events, list of performers to be published sometime after the end of January.
  
  
• Warwick Folk Festival 23rd – 27th July 2026. Tickets now on sale. Much of line-up announced but no '26 programme yet.
  
  
• Wickham Festival 30th July - 2nd August 2026. Tier 3 'earlybird' tickets now on sale. Some of the '26 line-up announced; many more details to follow.
  
  
• 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 but no programme details yet.
  
  
• 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. 'Super early bird' tickets now sold out; presently 'earlybird' tickets are on offer. Much of line-up announced but no programme details yet.
  
  
• Found Festival 28th - 31st August 2026. Tickets already on sale. Lots of information on the website still some artists to be announced.
  
  
• Lyme Folk Weekend 28th - 31st August 2026. No other details yet.
  
  
• Wallingford Bunkfest No information yet on the 2026 festival - assume the dates will be 28th - 30th August. Booking for camping will be open at Easter '26.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• Southdowns Folk Festival (Bognor Regis) No details of the 2026 festival on website yet..
  
  
• Malmesbury Folk and Roots Festival 19th September 2026. No other information yet.

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 Solent Waves Editor or see our contacts page