About us

'The long, star-studded list of incredibly talented musicians who played revellers through their weekend in the grounds of Cherry Hinton Hall only scratches the surface of what the event offers to festival-goers.' Evening Standard

Cambridge Folk Festival is one of the longest running folk festivals in the world. Held each year since 1965 it attracts around fourteen thousand people, many of whom return year after year.

The Festival is renowned for its unique atmosphere and its eclectic mix of music, the best traditional folk artists from the UK and Ireland rub shoulders with cutting edge contemporary acts, the finest American country, blues and roots artists, acclaimed singer songwriters, famous names and world music stars. 

(The view from Stage 1, 2023. Photo: Aaron Parsons)

Set the in the beautiful surroundings of Cherry Hinton Hall Park, the festival is just 15 minutes away from Cambridge's historic City Centre, it is perfect for anyone looking for the feel and atmosphere of a festival set in the deep countryside but with close links to the city.

A big part of the Festival’s ethos is to celebrate and nurture emerging talent and in 2011 the Festival created a dedicated stage, The Den, to provide a platform for artists under 30 years old to progress their music careers. The Hub is another special area for young musicians to take part in workshops, sessions and perform. These performances spaces have opened the Festival to a brand new generation of musicians. 

The Festival has won several awards over the last 50 years, including in 2014 the BBC Radio 2 Good Tradition Award and in 2016 the A Greener Festival Award, awarded to the Festival because of an on-going commitment to reducing its Carbon Footprint. Find out more about the Festival's ongoing Environmental commitments HERE

(The Silent Ceilidh 2023. Photo: Aaron Parsons)

To find out more about the history of Cambridge Folk Festival take a look at our History pages HERE