2026 North Carolina Folk Festival

The North Carolina Folk Festival returns to downtown Greensboro September 18 to 20, 2026 for three days of free live music, cultural traditions, food vendors, and community celebration.

Each year, the festival transforms the heart of the city into a shared public space where artists and audiences connect across genres, generations, and backgrounds.

The 2026 lineup launches in early May, and holy folk, it is an incredible mix of artists!

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  • No tickets needed! The NC Folk Festival is FREE to attend. We invite you to enjoy three days of fun in the heart of downtown Greensboro at no cost to you!

    Food, beverages, marketplace handcrafts, and other merchandise will be available for purchase.

    Help us keep the Festival free! It’s expensive to mount a world-class event like the North Carolina Folk Festival. Your donations make a difference!! Please be on the lookout for our Bucket Brigade volunteers in blue shirts carrying blue buckets. They’ll circulate throughout the Festival to ask for your support.

    All of your donations will go directly towards covering the cost of the Festival. You can also support the Festival online at ncfolkfestival.com/donate.

  • Chairs! Limited seating is available; bring your own chair to guarantee a seat.

    Your cellphone with the North Carolina Folk Festival schedule loaded on it!

    Cameras. If you take a really great photo, share it on social with the hashtag #ncfolkfestival.

    A reusable water bottle to make sure you stay hydrated throughout Festival weekend. You can refill your water bottle at one of our hydration stations!

  • The Festival program and site are designed to operate in most all weather conditions. The show will go on even in a little rain! Download our App for in-the-moment updates during festival weekend.