Festival Information
Scotland
Overview
Orkney Folk Festival is a long-running folk music festival based in Stromness on Orkney’s West Mainland. Established in 1983, the volunteer-run festival brings together visiting and local artists across a programme of concerts, sessions, workshops, storytelling, and community events held throughout Orkney.
Known for its welcoming atmosphere and strong connection to Orcadian culture, the festival combines performances from established folk musicians with emerging local talent. Events take place across a range of halls, churches, and community venues, creating a programme that feels closely tied to the islands and their musical traditions. Many visitors return year after year for both the music and the social atmosphere that surrounds the festival.
Line-up
View the
official line-up here.
Note: Line-ups may evolve closer to the festival date. Always check the official website and social media channels for the most up-to-date information.
Festival Attendance: ≈9,000 across the full festival
This figure reflects typical total ticket sales across the full four-day festival, based on recent published reports that Orkney Folk Festival sells around 8,000–9,000 tickets each year. It represents cumulative attendance across more than 50 events and multiple venues rather than a single-site capacity, with concerts generally taking place in seated indoor venues of varying sizes.
Location
Orkney Folk Festival is primarily based in Stromness, on Orkney’s West Mainland, with one of the central venues listed as: Stromness Town Hall, Church Rd, Stromness KW16 3BA.
More than half of the festival programme takes place in Stromness, while other concerts and events are held in venues across Orkney. These may include other West Mainland parishes, Kirkwall, and some island locations, depending on the year’s programme.
Travel Info
See their dedicated Get Here page for travel information, including ferry and flight options, onward transport, and local travel guidance.
Festival Venues
Festival venues vary by year, with events spread across halls, churches, community venues, and other local spaces. Some locations are within walking distance in Stromness, while others require road travel or ferry connections, so it is worth checking venue details when planning your programme.
Tickets
Basic Price Range: £10 - £26
This range reflects typical ticket prices across individual concerts, workshops, and events in the festival programme. Always check the official ticket page for current pricing and availability.
Tickets are sold per event, so prices vary depending on the venue, format, and type of performance.
Tickets for Orkney Folk Festival are sold per individual event, allowing visitors to build their own programme across the festival weekend. Browse the official programme and book via the ticket page.
How to book
- Book individual concerts, workshops, and events through the official ticket page
- Some events use reserved seating, while others may operate on a general admission basis
- Tickets are issued digitally and can be saved to Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, or downloaded as a printable PDF
- Orkney Friends members receive early access to tickets before general sale
Ticket notes
- There is no all-festival pass; each event is booked separately
- Popular concerts and workshops may sell out quickly once booking opens
- Mobile signal can be patchy in Orkney, so tickets should be saved or printed before travelling to venues
- Limited door sales may be available for some events if they have not sold out, usually on a first come, first served basis
Important Ticket Information
Tickets are non-refundable, so check dates, times, venues, and seating details carefully before booking. Some sold-out events may have spare tickets listed by other festivalgoers on the noticeboard at Stromness Ferry Terminal during the festival.
Only purchase tickets from official sellers listed on the festival’s website. Check the official ticket page for the latest availability, booking terms, and event-specific information.
Accommodation
Orkney Folk Festival is not a camping festival, so visitors will need to arrange their own accommodation.
Accommodation options can be explored at www.orkney.com.
Packing Checklist:
See our festival packing checklist for a general guide to what to bring.
Accessibility
Orkney Folk Festival collects accessibility requirements during the ticket booking process to help organisers plan support and adjustments in advance. Accessibility varies between venues, and any limitations to step-free access are identified within the festival programme.
Getting around the festival
- Most festival venues offer step-free access unless otherwise stated in the programme.
- Events take place across multiple venues in Stromness, with accessibility details provided for individual locations where relevant.
Facilities & support
- The festival ticketing system integrates with the Access Card scheme, allowing access requirements to be linked to bookings in advance.
- Festival volunteers can assist with adjustments requested through the Access Card system.
- Stromness Town Hall includes a limited number of wheelchair user spaces within its seating plan.
- At other venues, wheelchair users are generally advised to book standard admission tickets unless otherwise specified.
For detailed and up-to-date accessibility information, contact the organisers at tickets@orkneyfolkfestival.com.
