DATE & TIME
July 17–19, 2026
Friday – Sunday
VENUE
Jericho Beach Park
3941 Point Grey Rd, Vancouver, BC V6R 1P6
EDITION
49th Annual
Running since 1978
AGES
All ages welcome
Kids 12 & under free with adult
Three Days of International Music at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival
A beach, live music from over a dozen countries, and tens of thousands of people to enjoy it with? Sounds like a plan. The Vancouver Folk Music Festival is one of the Lower Mainland’s premier summer weekends. It features three days at Jericho Beach Park where over 40 artists from across BC, Canada and the world share stages, collaborate in workshops, and remind you why live music at an outdoor festival hits differently than anywhere else.
Now in its 49th year, the 2026 edition runs from July 17th to 19th. It spans folk, roots, blues, indie and world music from artists as far reaching as Ukraine, Taiwan, Benin, Somaliland and Japan, all on the same weekend, at the same beach. This is not a festival with a single sound. It is a weekend-long conversation between musical traditions, and Jericho Beach turns out to be the perfect place to have it.
When and Where
In 2026 the festival runs from Friday, July 17th, through Sunday, July 19th, at Jericho Beach Park in Vancouver. Friday hours are from 2:00 pm to 11:00 pm. Saturday and Sunday hours are from 9:30 am to 11:00 pm, with daytime workshops and afternoon performances building toward the main stage evening concerts.
Tickets
Full weekend ~$250 ~$220 ~$165
Friday evening ~$85 ~$70 ~$45
Single day ~$150 ~$125 ~$90
Tip: The festival is cashless. Bring your debit or credit card — Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Apple Pay and Google Pay are all accepted. Cash is not.
Buy your tickets at the official Vancouver Folk Music Festival website.
The 2026 Lineup
The breadth of the 2026 artist roster is what sets this festival apart from almost anything else in the region. You have Ukrainian folk, Taiwanese Indigenous music, Beninese voodoo celebration, Somaliland storytelling, Scottish smallpipes, Japanese folk fusion, Barcelona flamenco-punk and Belfast experimentalism all on the same weekend, at the same beach. Below is the full confirmed lineup by region of origin.
VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND
Cousin Harley · Empanadas Ilegales · Haley Blais · Luke Wallace · Ruby Singh & the Future Ancestors · Surf Hat
REST OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
Gamksimoon · Lindi Ortega · Ruby Waters
OTHER PARTS OF CANADA
Aysanabee · Brianna Lizotte · El Balcón · Kazdoura · La Déferlance · Slocan Ramblers · Tami Neilson
UNITED STATES
Anna Tivel · Jeffrey Martin · Ken Pomeroy · Valerie June
INTERNATIONAL
Amistat (Germany/Australia) · Bia Ferreira (Brazil) · Billy Bragg (UK) · BIM — Benin International Musical (Benin, Africa) · Brìghde Chaimbeul (Isle of Skye, Scotland) · Hazlett (Australia) · John Smith (Somerset, UK) · Joshua Burnside (Belfast, N. Ireland) · Maruja Limón (Barcelona, Spain) · Mitsune (Japan/Germany) · Sahra Halgan (Somaliland, Africa) · Sauljaljui (Pingtung, Taiwan) · Teddy Thompson (UK) · Tina Dico (Denmark) · Yagódy (Lviv, Ukraine)
The festival has also put together a Spotify playlist featuring the 2026 lineup — a great way to get acquainted with artists before the weekend.
Find it at open.spotify.com/playlist/6VKh8RYPoZ1I4OVZApXHOz.
What to Expect
The festival spreads across multiple stages on the lawns at Jericho Beach Park. The daytime format on Saturday and Sunday centres around workshops and sets where artists come together to collaborate around a theme. This often produces some of the most surprising and memorable moments of the entire weekend. Evenings build toward the main stage headliners, which typically run all the way up until 11:00 pm.
The Vancouver Folk Music Festival offers a relaxed, community-focused atmosphere. People bring blankets and chairs, move between stages at their own pace, and the vibe is more neighbourhood gathering than rock concert. Food trucks are spread throughout the grounds, and beer and wine are available from a few on-site bars.
Tip: Bring a water bottle. The festival has free refill stations on site. A blanket or low chair is also worth it if you want to settle in for the evening main stage sets.
Little Folks Village
The festival is fully family-friendly, and the Little Folks Village is worth knowing about if you are bringing kids. Open from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Friday and 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday, it runs its own programming: arts and crafts, parachute games, face painting, live music, juggling and storytelling. Children 12 and under are free with a paying adult, so this is one of the more accessible big festival experiences for families in the Lower Mainland.
The Artisan Market
Around three dozen vendors set up in the Artisan Market, selling everything from handmade soaps and jewellery to African drums, hats, bags and clothing. Even if you are not planning to buy anything, it is worth a wander between sets as it adds to the overall texture of the weekend and gives you something to do while the stages reset.
Getting There
Jericho Beach draws thousands of people over the weekend, and parking is genuinely challenging. Taking transit or cycling is the smarter move. Secure bike valet parking is available near both the West and East Gates off West 4th Avenue. Leave your bike for a donation and get a ticket to pick it up later.
Good to Know
The festival takes place rain or shine. Past attendees consistently report that even wet editions delivered incredible experiences — the music does not stop for weather, and the atmosphere tends to stay warm regardless. Sunny July evenings at Jericho Beach are obviously ideal, but don’t let a grey forecast put you off booking.
Tip: Leave the dog at home. Pets are not permitted on the festival grounds, except for service animals.
Official website: thefestival.bc.ca
Tickets & full lineup: thefestival.bc.ca/2026-artists
Other articles that might be of interest: Carnaval del Sol, Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival