Festival Calendar UK

Orkney Folk Festival

Scotland

Overview

Orkney Folk Festival is a volunteer-run festival of contemporary and traditional folk music established in 1983. It brings together visiting performers and Orcadian musicians across more than 50 events during four days.

The multi-venue programme includes concerts, ceilidhs, stomps, lounge performances, workshops, family events and informal sessions. More than half of the programme takes place in Stromness, with additional events hosted by communities elsewhere across Orkney.

Line-up

Explore the festival's website for line-up announcements and programme updates.

Festival Attendance: ≈ 8,000–9,000 total ticket sales

First held: 19832027 edition: 44th

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Location

Orkney Folk Festival takes place across Orkney, with more than half of the programme held in Stromness on the West Mainland. Its three busiest venues are Stromness Town Hall, Stromness Academy and Stromness Community Centre, while other locations vary from year to year.

Events outside Stromness may require road travel or an inter-island ferry, so check the venue attached to each booking when planning your visit.

Travel

Orkney is connected with mainland Scotland by flights and ferries, with onward rail and bus connections available from ferry ports. See the festival's Get Here page for current travel and local transport guidance.

Festival Venues

Events use halls, churches, community centres and other local spaces. Several Stromness venues are within walking distance of one another, while access arrangements and facilities vary across the wider programme.

Tickets

Basic Price Range: £10 - £30

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.

Options include:

  • Concerts and lounge performances
  • Ceilidhs, dances and stomps
  • Workshops
  • Family events
  • Occasional free events

Important Ticket Information

There is no weekend or day pass, and accommodation is not included. Children require tickets, with reduced prices offered at most events. Orkney Friends receive advance booking access.

Tickets are issued digitally and should be saved to a mobile wallet or printed before travelling to venues where reception may be unreliable. Online orders carry a transaction fee, and tickets cannot normally be exchanged or refunded.

Only purchase tickets through links provided by the official festival website. Check the official ticket page for current availability, terms and event-specific information.

Accommodation

Visitors arrange their own accommodation across Orkney. Staying in or near Stromness can simplify access to the largest concentration of events, although parts of the programme take place elsewhere across the islands.

Accommodation and transport can be limited during the festival, so early planning is advisable. Explore options through Orkney.com's accommodation guide.

Packing Checklist:

Ensure you are fully prepared for your festival adventure with Festival Calendar UK's Packing Checklist.

Accessibility

Accessibility varies across the festival's venues. Most offer step-free access unless the programme states otherwise, and requirements can be linked to bookings in advance through the Access Card scheme.

Getting around the festival

  • Most venues offer step-free access unless otherwise stated in the programme.
  • Stromness Town Hall has a limited number of designated wheelchair-user tickets.
  • Wheelchair users normally book general admission at other venues unless specified otherwise.

Facilities & support

  • The ticketing system integrates with the Access Card scheme.
  • Festival volunteers can support adjustments communicated through the booking system.

Check individual event information and provide access requirements when booking. Read the festival's FAQs for more information.