Orkney Folk Festival

View on map
MusicStromness/Orkney
DatesDates TBA · Usually MayCheck locally before booking
Duration4 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLive music, late nightsThe festival was founded to address two
LanguageEnglishCurrency: GBP
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

Orkney Folk Festival in Stromness/Orkney

A traditional folk music festival held in Stromness, Orkney, each May since 1983, founded by BBC Radio Orkney and the Orkney Tourist Board to support a struggling tourist season and revive interest in traditional music. Volunteer-run from the outset, it remains one of Scotland's most highly regarded folk festivals.

Orkney Folk Festival grew out of a joint committee formed by BBC Radio Orkney and the Orkney Tourist Board in 1982, established to address two problems the islands faced at the time: a summer tourist season that was contracting and a traditional folk music culture that was increasingly seen as unfashionable, particularly among younger Orcadians.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The festival was founded to address two specific local problems at once, a shrinking tourist season and declining youth interest in traditional Orcadian music, giving it a civic purpose beyond simple entertainment from its earliest planning

02

The mystery stays covered

Its continued reliance on hundreds of volunteers, a founding principle maintained for more than four decades, has kept it community-owned rather than corporately managed, distinguishing it clearly from Orkney's other major arts event, the classically focused St Magnus International Festival

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Volunteer-led organisation has remained a founding principle of the festival since 1982

Water and renewal

Living ritual

alongside its consistent anchoring in Stromness and its focus on traditional and contemporary folk music over other genres

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually May

Getting around

Stay close enough to the part of Stromness/Orkney you will actually use, especially if the event runs late.

What to wear

Comfortable, weatherproof clothing suited to a small coastal town with unpredictable May weather, and warm layers for cool Orkney evenings.

Safety

Keep phone power, water, and a clear meeting point sorted before the main crowd arrives.

Where to stay

For busy dates, stay near reliable routes so the return after Orkney Folk Festival does not become the hardest part.

Tickets/cost

Ticketing varies by venue and stage. Confirm official passes before booking travel.

Language/currency

GBP

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map51.51 N, 0.13 WOpen in Google Maps

Stromness/Orkney, Scotland, United Kingdom

Nearest airportKOI — Kirkwall
TransportStay close enough to the part of Stromness/Orkney you will actually use, especially if the event runs late.
Stay areaFor busy dates, stay near reliable routes so the return after Orkney Folk Festival does not become the hardest part.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Stromness/Orkney via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Stromness/Orkney, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for May.Compare faresFestival gearComfortable, weatherproof clothing suited to a small coastal town with unpredictable May weather, and warm layers for cool Orkney evenings.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United Kingdom and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Orkney Folk Festival?

Orkney Folk Festival is listed for Past edition: 21–24 May 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Orkney Folk Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Stromness/Orkney, United Kingdom. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

4 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Stromness/Orkney, Scotland, United Kingdom

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLorkney.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually May
Source statusOfficial source linked
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