The Newport Folk Festival returns to Melbourne's inner west across six venues this June.
The Newport Folk Festival returns to Melbourne’s inner west on 26 and 27 June with a packed two-day program.
Presented by the Newport Fiddle & Folk Club, the Newport Folk Festival will spread across six venues throughout the suburb for a weekend of folk, roots, bluegrass and everything adjacent. More than 50 performances are on the bill, spanning solo singer-songwriters, lively dance music, a combined choirs concert featuring roughly 60 voices, storytelling sessions and participatory workshops where punters are encouraged to bring their own instruments.
Newport Folk Festival
- 26 June, 7:15pm — Newport Bowls Club (welcome concert)
- 27 June, 11am–10pm — Newport Bowls Club, The Substation, Newport Scout Hall, Mechanics Hall, The Hub, Studio B
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around Melbourne here.
The action opens with a welcome concert at the Newport Bowls Club from 7:15pm on 26 June. From 11am on 27 June, things expand across the Bowls Club, The Substation, Newport Scout Hall, Mechanics Hall, The Hub and Studio B, with the final performance wrapping up at 10pm.
Tickets are on sale now at $45 full price or $33 concession for both days, with concession rates available to current NFFC members, full-time students, pensioners and healthcare card holders. Under-18s get in free but still need to register for a ticket. Door prices jump to $55 and $42 respectively, so booking ahead is worth the two minutes.
The workshop program at Mechanics Hall runs from Django swing guitar through to Appalachian fiddle and banjo, with guided jams and a vocal harmonies session rounding things out. Over at The Hub, there’s a Celtic session, blues jams, a beginner playalong and a dedicated kids’ storytelling slot. Whether you’re a seasoned picker or someone who just bought a ukulele three weeks ago, there’s something on the schedule for you.
Across the main stages, highlights include CJ Commerford & The Supertones, Ami Williamson, Pirritu, Morrigan & Wilding and Gusto Gusto, with sets running hourly at the Bowls Club and The Substation throughout the day. Studio B offers a more intimate run of solo and duo performances, while Newport Scout Hall hosts the old-timey sessions, sea shanties and bush orchestra sets.
Organisers are also calling for volunteers across first aid, MC, stage management and general operations roles, with three- to four-hour shifts earning a free festival wristband. Limited-edition 2026 festival t-shirts designed by Megan Slattery are available for $35, with orders closing 1 May.
For more information, head here.
