Port Fairy Folk Festival has announced its first wave of artists for 2026, featuring international stars Iron & Wine and The Swell Season.
The beloved Victorian festival returns for its 49th year with a diverse lineup spanning traditional and contemporary folk from across the globe. Port Fairy Folk Festival will welcome more than 100 artists over the Labour Day long weekend, creating what organisers describe as an unparalleled celebration of music and storytelling.
Leading the announcement are American singer-songwriter Iron & Wine, making his debut at the coastal festival, alongside Academy Award-winning duo The Swell Season, known for their song Falling Slowly from the film Once. The lineup also features Irish quintet Beoga, celebrated for their electrifying blend of traditional and contemporary folk, and Scotland’s Elephant Sessions, whose folk-fusion sound promises to have audiences dancing into the night.
Port Fairy Folk Festival
- When: 6-9 March, 2026
- Where: Port Fairy, Victoria
- Tickets: Early bird tickets available here
Lineup (so far)
- Åkervinda
- Blair Dunlop
- Beoga
- Elephant Sessions
- Emma Donovan
- Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham
- Gráinne Hunt
- Iron & Wine
- Mary Coughlan
- Mia Kelly
- Nico Paulo
- Northern Resonance
- Pierce Brothers
- Steve Poltz
- Svavar Knútur
- The Swell Season
- Windborne
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Australian representation comes from powerhouse Emma Donovan, presenting her new project Take Me to the River, which fuses soul and country with deep emotion and electrifying energy. Melbourne duo Pierce Brothers return to the festival, bringing their dynamic live performances back to the coastal village.
International highlights include Swedish vocal quartet Åkervinda, blending ancient Nordic folk songs with contemporary harmonies, and Ireland’s Mary Coughlan, making her fourth appearance at the festival due to popular demand. Canadian artists Mia Kelly and Steve Poltz add further diversity to the folk celebration.
The festival’s Program Director Justin Rudge describes the first lineup as truly reflecting the spirit of Port Fairy – global, diverse, and deeply rooted in the joy of live music. Artists will perform across four major stages on the festival arena, as well as within small venues and halls around the Port Fairy village.
Port Fairy Folk Festival is one of Australia’s longest running and most beloved music festivals, drawing audiences from across the country and around the world for nearly five decades. In 2027, the festival will celebrate its 50th anniversary, a milestone that has driven awareness and economic impact for the regional township of Port Fairy.
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