The festival builds on the town’s rich history of traditional music, song and dance, from the founding of Barnsley Folk Club in 1962 and the many successful folk artists that have sung and played there, to the many folk music concerts that have taken place at Barnsley Civic over the decades.

We’re thrilled to reveal the headline act kicking off our 2026 festival, Barnsley’s very own Kate Rusby, one of the most spellbinding voices in British folk. She’ll be joined by the brilliant indie‑folk duo Eletto, bringing even more home‑grown talent to the stage.

Across three vibrant days, you’ll be able to dive into four unforgettable events celebrating the very best of traditional and contemporary folk music, dance and craft with a blend of free and ticketed experiences to enjoy - take a look at the full line up.