Holmfirth Festival of Folk

Holmfirth Festival of Folk 2026

Experience the 2026 Holmfirth Festival of Folk from Friday 8th to Sunday 10th May at the historic Holmfirth Picture Drome in West Yorkshire. Set in the picturesque Pennine town of Holmfirth, the festival celebrates traditional folk music, dance, and community spirit.

Music and Dance

Enjoy toe-tapping concerts, lively ceilidh dances, Morris dancers, and street performances. Headline acts perform in the intimate setting of the Picture Drome’s restored cinema with its own bar.

Workshops and Participation

Daytime workshops offer opportunities to learn clog dancing, fiddle, concertina, or join singing circles. Friendly callers guide newcomers through ceilidh dances, encouraging everyone to join in.

Community and Atmosphere

This volunteer-run festival has a warm, welcoming spirit. Locals and visitors share music and dance in the village streets, cosy pubs, and local shops. Families are welcome, with children’s ceilidhs and folk craft activities available.

By car, Holmfirth is well-connected via the M62 motorway. If traveling from Manchester or Leeds, take the M62 to junction 23 (Huddersfield), then follow the A629/A6024 south into Holmfirth. Depending on traffic, the drive from Manchester Airport is about 45 minutes. Entering the town, follow signs for the Holmfirth Picture Drome or town centre. Several public car parks (including those on Market Place and Station Road) are just a short walk from the venue. Note that spaces tend to fill quickly during busy events, so it's sensible to arrive early or car-share if you can.

By public transport, the nearest mainline station is Huddersfield, with regular services to Leeds, Manchester, London and more. From Huddersfield, local buses (such as the First 310) run to Holmfirth roughly every hour. The main Holmfirth bus stop on New Mill Road (near the Phoenix Centre) is only a few minutes' walk from the Picture Drome. Local taxis are also available outside the station if needed. Once in Holmfirth, the town is small enough to explore on foot, with most venues and amenities within easy walking distance.

From the air, Manchester Airport (about 25 miles away) and Leeds Bradford Airport (around the same distance) are the closest. Both airports provide car rentals, taxis and public transport links to Huddersfield, where you can connect to Holmfirth. In terms of accommodation, Holmfirth itself offers a handful of cosy hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs - it's wise to book early when a big event is on. Huddersfield and the surrounding villages have a larger selection of lodgings and are only a short drive away. Wherever you stay, you'll wake up to views of the Yorkshire countryside and be just minutes from the festival action.