Orkney Folk Festival

Leading artists from around the world will appear at the 2025 Orkney Folk Festival, joining home-grown Orcadian musicians at the festival in its 42nd year.

Audiences can look forward to performances at the festival by artists from islands including Shetland, Skye, Arran, the Isle of Man, Ireland, Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island, Australia, and Manhattan.

Already confirmed to appear in 2025 are Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, Dreamers’ Circus, Natalie and Brittany Haas, Frigg, Gnoss, Findlay Napier, Kim Carnie, The Magpies, Malin Lewis, The Maes, Guy Davis, the Glenfinnan Ceilidh Band, and Project Smok, amongst others.

Further artists will be announced in the New Year and the full festival programme will be available online once the official line-up is confirmed.

The Orkney Folk Festival has become one of the most popular events on the Orkney calendar, bringing four days of the finest folk music to the islands.

In a typical year, the festival will incorporate around 35 ticketed events across its four days, as well as countless pub sessions and free events in its hometown of Stromness. Around two thirds of the festival’s programme takes place in its west mainland base, with other events dotted around other Orcadian parishes and a few outer islands.

Since its inception in 1982, one of the festival’s most important characteristics is the balance of visiting and local artistes. Whilst the festival has become a sought-after stage amongst artists worldwide – and has been a four-day home for many, over the years – it is equally, if not more so, the local, Orcadian acts that make the festival what it is and keep the crowds coming.

Many folk enjoy the festival, and the atmosphere it creates, so much that they return year after year to experience the fine mixture of music and hospitality - with accommodation booked long before the line-up has been announced.

You can keep up to date with the Orkney Folk Festival on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.