The iconic Cambridge Folk Festival, organized by Cambridge City Council since 1965, has announced a significant evolution to its format, aiming to safeguard its future while celebrating its independent, grassroots origins. Returning in July 2026 after a fallow year in 2025, the festival will adopt a multi-venue approach that extends its reach across the city, while retaining Cherry Hinton Hall as its spiritual heart.
The new format will see Cherry Hinton Hall host a scaled-back, two-day outdoor event with basic camping, forming the core weekend celebration. Throughout the rest of the week, additional folk and roots music events will take place in various venues and performance spaces across Cambridge. This inclusive and affordable approach is designed to enhance financial resilience and environmental sustainability, crucial factors in today's challenging festival market.
Festival organizers emphasized the necessity of these changes: “The decision to change its format has not been easy but having to cancel the Festival altogether was a very real prospect we wanted to avoid. The past few years have been particularly challenging across the whole industry… to secure the future of Cambridge Folk Festival for the next generation, we no longer have the option of continuing the Festival in its current, unaffordable format.” They reiterated their commitment to preserving the festival's unique spirit of "heart, friendship, [and] music."
The plans follow an extensive review and consultation with the festival's loyal audience and industry professionals. The multi-venue model has already proven successful for events like Celtic Connections and Manchester Folk Festival, offering the potential to attract new audiences and scale according to demand. This refreshed format is expected to provide a strong and innovative foundation for a cutting-edge program, while continuing the festival’s unparalleled reputation for promoting emerging talent.
During the 2025 fallow year, organizers will continue to support the folk community with local events and initiatives for emerging artists. More details regarding the 2026 festival, including ticket information, are expected to be announced by the end of the year.
