The Port Fairy Folk Festival is one of Australia’s most iconic events, loved by artists and audiences alike. In its rich 41 year history it has hosted more than 500 international acts from as far afield as Sierra Leone and as close to our shores as New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. The Festival has presented iconic international and national folk artists such as Arlo Guthrie, Sinéad O’Connor, Paul Kelly and Buffy Sainte-Marie, and introduced our audiences to artists such as The Waifs and Xavier Rudd, way back last century at the beginning of their careers. The Port Fairy Folk Festival is a joyous adventure of music, people and discovery. It celebrates folk music of all cultures, from Celtic to Bluegrass, Tarantella to Gypsy, Bush Ballads to Tibetan Chanting and is a dynamic mix of the known treasures and the new discoveries. Every year is different in its content but the festival always stays true to the spirit of being a very special community who gather once a year in the village of Port Fairy to be a part of a vibrant and glorious, musical and cultural conversation.

The key to the event is the people and the true not for profit philosophy of the organisation. We are all in it together. Audiences and artists alike should be proud to know that over the years the festival has distributed profits via its grants program, totalling more than $10 million to support far reaching programs and projects such as the Community Hospital, the Surf Life Saving Club, Arts and Educational Programs just to name a few.

The 42nd Festival will inspire, engage and challenge, with its mix of special events, concerts, forums and workshops. We encourage you to peruse the artist page and delight in the known and explore, listen and watch the unknown gems who we are sure will delight you in 2018.