Please keep checking back for details of next year's Festival...

ARRAN FOLK FESTIVAL

ARRAN FOLK FESTIVALARRAN FOLK FESTIVALARRAN FOLK FESTIVAL

5th - 7th June 2026

ARRAN FOLK FESTIVAL

ARRAN FOLK FESTIVALARRAN FOLK FESTIVALARRAN FOLK FESTIVAL

5th - 7th June 2026

HERE WE GO AGAIN...!

Next year's Festival will begin in...

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AND WE'RE OFF!

About us

The first ever Folk Festival on the Isle of Arran was almost 55 years ago!

It was then re-invented in 1989 and 2019 saw us celebrate our official 25th Anniversary (it only took us 30years to get there!)

We then suffered a two-year hiatus thanks to Covid...

However, 2026 will bring us the 30th Arran Folk Festival which will feature free-to-attend afternoon sessions with Uncle Keith at the Douglas Hotel, evening concerts in Brodick Village Hall and late-night sessions.  There will also be some special free-to-attend workshops.


We hope to see you there...!

Event History

The 'first' Arran Folk Festival took place in 1989, partly in a bid to attract tourists to our island during the wee lull between busy Whit Weekend and the start of the school holidays.
The Festival saw a week-long series of concerts and pub sessions take place around the whole island.  Over the next decade the festival went from strength to strength and became an established high point in Arran's tourism calendar.
The new Millennium brought with it changes and challenges: 'traditional' tourism was changing, and the original organisers were looking to pass on the baton of responsibility.

After a few potholes in the road the Festival has changed to a weekend event, and now takes place in the central location of Brodick.

Event Highlights

Over the last 30+ years there have been too many incredible highlights to fit into one webpage.  And besides, as organisers we're just a bit too biased to judge!  However, we love to hear anecdotes from anyone who has attended an Arran Folk Festival over the years, so please feel free to drop us an email or post on our facebook page...

Programme of Events

Friday 5th June

Open Session

12pm

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5pm

The Douglas Hotel

Event Details

Friday 5th June

Open Session

Free Session - hosted by Uncle Keith 

Bring an instrument, bring a song... or just bring your ears!

12pm

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5pm

The Douglas Hotel

Friday 5th June

Evening Concert

7pm

-

11pm

Brodick Public Hall

Event Details

Friday 5th June

Evening Concert

  • artists to be confirmed


Licensed

Tickets:  Please keep an eye on our socials...

7pm

-

11pm

Brodick Public Hall

Friday 5th June

Late Night Session

11pm

-

2am

Venue TBC

Event Details

Friday 5th June

Late Night Session

Free Session

Wind down with a drink, a song and guid company...

11pm

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2am

Venue TBC

Saturday 6th June

Waulking Songs Workshop

10.00am

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11.30am

Brodick Church Hall

Event Details

Saturday 6th June

Waulking Songs Workshop

Orain Luaidh Workshop - hosted by Dr Rena Gertz 

Learn about the traditional practice of waulking the tweed - working the fresh material to t...

Event Details

10.00am

-

11.30am

Brodick Church Hall

Saturday 6th June

Waulking Songs Workshop

12.00pm

-

1.30pm

Brodick Church Hall

Event Details

Saturday 6th June

Waulking Songs Workshop

Orain Luaidh Workshop - hosted by Dr Rena Gertz 

Learn about the traditional practice of waulking the tweed - working the fresh material to t...

Event Details

12.00pm

-

1.30pm

Brodick Church Hall

More Events

This Year's HEADLINERs...

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Click the pic to visit the artist's official webpage...

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Click the pic to visit the artist's official webpage...

This Year's SUPPORT ACts...

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Click the pic to visit the artist's official webpage...

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Click the pic to visit the artist's official webpage...

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Click pic to visit the artist's "official webpage"...

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Click the pic to visit the artist's official webpage...

WORKSHOPS...

Waulking Songs with Rena Gertz

Regular visitors to our Folk Festival will no doubt recognise Dr Rena Gertz.

Rena came to Scotland almost thirty years ago to complete a Master's Degree in Law.  As a break from her studies, Rena joined a Gaelic Choir and fell in love with the music.  So much so that, after completing her Degree, Rena re-enrolled at University to study Gaelic, to better enjoy the songs she now loved singing.


This year will be Rena's third time running this wonderful workshop, which teaches the historical and cultural importance of waulking songs through small group interactive sessions.  

Last year Rena selected students from both afternoon sessions to perform a small impromptu set to open our evening concert.

As previously, Rena has decided to make these workshops free to attend.  However, places are limited, so will be allocated on a  first-come-first-served basis.  If you would like to take part, don't delay - sign up today!


~~ Click on the pic to visit Rena's official webpage ~~

Online Ticket Sales

PLEASE NOTE:  Tickets for next year's festival will be sold through Eventbrite.

Please keep checking back for details...

THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING FOR SUPPORTING Arran Folk Festival:

We are always looking for new supporters!

Archive

1989 Original Artwork by Malky McCormick

Videos

Old Blind Dogs, 2018

Terror Time

The Poozies, 2018

Soaking in the Bathtub

FURTHER INFORMATION

Contact Us

Please feel free to get in touch...

Arran Folk Festival

admin@arranfolkfestival.co.uk

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