Music Industry News

Auckland Folk Festival is set to make a roaring return in 2026! Delighting families and friends for over 50 years, and returning to Kumeu Showgrounds over Auckland Anniversary Weekend (23-26 January 2026). With a massive programme on offer showcasing both local and international acts from across the musical spectrum. No matter what age or stage, from the very young to the young at heart, bring the whole family – there is something here for everyone!

As New Zealand’s largest folk festival, the 2026 Auckland Folk Festival, is the perfect end to the summer season, with a diverse selection of the best in contemporary and traditional folk music & dance, for music lovers of all ages. The three-day spectacular, complete with covered marquees, onsite camping & food and market stalls, delivers like no other. It’s a relaxed weekend away, yet at the same time you can pack in as much as you like – there are five stages (including a dedicated kids’ stage), running all weekend. Food trucks cater to every diet, alongside flax weaving, pottery, music & dance workshops. Wherever you look, there’s shade under a leafy tree, and space for all to come together, to enjoy friends, family, beautiful music and great food.

Headlining the festival this year is multi-award winning indie-folk favourite Mel Parsons. The celebrated New Zealand singer and songwriter will delight folk festival stages with her beguiling voice, razor sharp wit and deft hand. Her captivating live shows and exquisitely crafted music has won her a dedicated fan base across six records and countless national and international tours. Parsons was also a 2025 Taite Music Prize finalist and a finalist in the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards Album of the Year and Best Folk Artist categories.

Two-time JUNO award winning artist Old Man Luedecke (CAN) joins the lineup, one of Canada’s best loved and most intriguing roots singer-songwriters. Known for his masterful banjo playing, his narrative-driven songs are a playful and heart-warming mix of folk, bluegrass and pop. He is joined by Cassie and Maggie (CAN), award-winning sibling folk duo from Nova Scotia. The sisters’ remarkable musicianship, a thrilling blend of fiddle, piano, guitar, sibling harmonies in both English and Gaelic, and percussive step dance, has earned them critical acclaim and an enthusiastic following across Canada, the U.S., and Europe.

Dragkroka (SWE) and Marine/Simonson/Wiskari (SWE) are two fantastic Nordic groups heading to Aotearoa to delight audiences at the 2026 festival, bridging both hemispheres and traditions. Marine/Simonson/Wiskari will be joined by internationally recognised Māori anthropologist, taonga pūoro musician, and award-winning composer, Rob Thorne (Ngāti Tumutumu, Tainui), adding a beautiful Aotearoa twist to their Auckland Folk Festival performance. Acclaimed British Folk-Punk Ballad singer Jennifer Reid (UK), returns to NZ post her hugely successful recent NZ tour, alongside the talented singing trio Culverake (UK), rounding out the international lineup.

There’s loads of fun to be had with Aotearoa’s Turkey the Bird and Hot Diggity, all set to bring plenty of sparkle and pizzazz to this year’s Auckland Folk Festival. Renowned for their infectious energy and spirited performances, Bazurka, a dynamic seven-piece band from Wellington, are a must-see for anyone eager to experience the pulse of Balkan and Greek traditions reimagined through a contemporary lens. Waiata workshops will be running throughout the weekend under the guided tuition of Hinekoia Tomlinson, blending voice training and vocal science with the beauty and power of waiata.

Butter Wouldn’t Melt, Tom Cunliffe, Mice on Stilts, and Miriam McCombe provide a beautiful snapshot of the current New Zealand folk scene. The Kids Stage will run with multi-award winning Simon Stanley and Parrot and the Pocket as featured guests.

If you’re the type to play a little guitar in your down time, join a workshop to hone your skills. It’s as low pressure, high value as you get, with educational workshops running all weekend. International tutors will bring their knowledge to you, all you have to do is say yes!

Tickets available from Eventbrite

2026 Auckland Folk Festival Lineup:

Adam & Marika
Bazurka
Butter Wouldn’t Melt
Cassie & Maggie (CAN)
Celtic Ferret
Culverake (UK)
Dragkroka (SWE)
Hinekoia Tomlinson
Hot Diggity
Jeff Davis
Jennifer Reid (UK)
Marine/Simonson/Wiskari (SWE)
Mel Parsons
Mice on Stilts
Miriam McCombe
Old Man Luedecke (CAN)
Olive Mortimer
Parrot in the Pocket
Petty Grass
Sammy Leary
Simon Stanley
Tom Cunliffe
Turkey the Bird
& much more!

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