Geelong Folk Festival returns with a full day of live music

Folk music returns to Geelong

More than 30 years after the city's last folk festival, Geelong is once again set to celebrate one of the world's most enduring musical traditions with the return of the Geelong Folk Festival.

Presented by the Geelong Folk Music Club, the festival will fill the Geelong West Town Hall with music from 11:00am until 9:30pm on Sunday 6 September 2026. Audiences can enjoy an eclectic mix of traditional folk, acoustic, Celtic, blues, roots and contemporary performances from artists representing Australia and cultures from around the world.

Leading the program are celebrated Australian acoustic blues guitarist Nick Charles, acclaimed singer-songwriter Suzette Herft and Scottish traditional vocalist Fiona Ross. Festival-goers can also take part in workshops and informal music sessions, adding an interactive element to the day's entertainment.

The festival proudly showcases local performers alongside nationally recognised artists, with Carl Dickens, The Ch00ks, Bellarine Banshees and Seal Prince and the Roof Rats among the home-grown acts joining the program.

Festival secretary Merri Winter said the lineup had been carefully selected to reflect the remarkable diversity of folk music, offering audiences an opportunity to experience everything from timeless traditional songs to modern interpretations of the genre.

Featuring 16 outstanding performers

The 2026 lineup includes Nick Charles, Fiona Ross, Apolline, Carl Dickens, The Ch00ks, Bellarine Banshees, Shona Williams, Possums on the Porch, Jacob Boots, Velvet Sledgehammer, Suzette Herft, Seal Prince and the Roof Rats, Mickey & Michelle, Milk, The Drongo and The Crow, and Jill Meehan and Family.

The Geelong Folk Festival takes place on Sunday 6 September 2026 at the Geelong West Town Hall. With more than ten hours of live music, workshops and community performances, the festival marks the welcome return of a much-loved event to Geelong's cultural calendar.

Tickets and further information are available from the Geelong Folk Music Club.