Ely Folk Festival

Ely Folk Festival 2026

Join Ely Folk Festival from 10th to 12th July 2026 at Ely Football Club’s Outdoor Centre on Downham Road, Cambridgeshire. This three-day summer event offers live folk music and a welcoming atmosphere just a short walk from Ely city centre.

Music

Enjoy multiple outdoor stages featuring ceilidh bands, traditional folk ensembles, contemporary singer-songwriters and roots-rock groups. Highlights include:

• Main stage evening headline acts
• Smaller side stages and impromptu music circles
• Soulful vocals, fiddles, flutes and more

Family Activities

Family-friendly fun includes free creative workshops, face painting, storytelling and games for children, alongside lively ceilidh dance sessions and Morris dancing for all ages.

Food & Drink

Food vendors serve wood-fired pizza, burgers and local delicacies, complemented by real ale, cider and gin at the festival’s bar areas.

Atmosphere & Camping

Experience a friendly, communal vibe run by passionate volunteers. Onsite camping welcomes tents, campervans and caravans, keeping you close to the music. Enjoy campfire singalongs and late-night ceilidh dances under the stars.

By train and bus: Ely is well connected by rail and bus. Ely railway station (Cambridgeshire) is on the main line, with frequent trains from Cambridge (about 15 minutes) and London (about 1 hour from King's Cross) each day. From the station, the festival site at Ely City Football Club on Downham Road (postcode CB6 2SH) is a short taxi ride or roughly a 20-minute walk; during the festival, a shuttle bus usually links the station, the city centre and the Downham Road venue. Scheduled buses also run from Cambridge and other regional towns to Ely. The nearest airports are Cambridge (around 20 miles), Norwich (about 40 miles) and Stansted (about 50 miles), all offering onward rail or coach connections.

By car: Ely is easily accessed via the A10 road. From Cambridge or the south, take the A10 north (via the A14/M11); from Norwich or King's Lynn, use the A47 to join the A10 south. Follow signs for Ely City Football Club on Downham Road (postcode CB6 2SH). Ample free parking is available on-site for festival attendees. Ely's city centre offers various lodging options, from cozy B&Bs and historic inns to hotels. If needed, nearby Cambridge (about a 20-minute train ride) provides many additional hotels. The festival also typically provides on-site camping areas for tents, campervans or caravans, which can be booked in advance with your tickets.