Musicport Festival

About Musicport

Musicport reaches its 26th year in 2026. It runs from 23-25 October 2026 at Whitby Pavilion, Whitby, with a music programme built around international music, art and culture. The festival dates back to 2001, with founders Jim and Sue stepping back in 2021 before the current core crew took over. The setting is indoors.

Lineup and Programme

The bill leans into world music, folk, global fusion, afrobeat, jazz, reggae, electronica and a cappella. Music runs across the Main Stage, Northern Lights Suite and Exhibition Hall. Workshops sit alongside the live sets.

The wider programme includes family activities, cultural performances, marketplace browsing, dance and communal gatherings. The Pavilion format keeps the main arena spaces inside the same complex.

Who Is It For?

Musicport is built for an all-ages audience with an interest in international music and cultural programming. Families are part of the brief. Quiet and sensory calm spaces sit alongside accessible toilets, wheelchair spaces in performance areas and an induction loop system.

The Venue and Site

Whitby Pavilion sits on West Cliff in Whitby. Festival spaces inside the complex include the Pavilion Theatre, Northern Lights Suite and Exhibition Hall, with an accessible café inside the building and food stalls outside the main entrance.

No camping on site. There are no campervan pitches, and overnight sleeping in vehicles is not allowed on the West Cliff. Nearby campsites are the option for attendees staying under canvas.

Travel

• Nearest rail: Whitby railway station is in the middle of town.
• Other rail routes: Scarborough can be used for onward bus or taxi travel to Whitby, while Middlesbrough connects to Whitby via the Esk Valley route.
• Road access: Routes into Whitby include the A171, A64 and A169, with local access via Pavilion Drive and North Terrace.
• Parking: Parking is limited. West Cliff Car Park is opposite the venue and has space for 424 cars and 11 coaches, while Pavilion Top Car Park has 63 long-stay spaces.
• Nearby cities: Scarborough is 19.8 miles away and Middlesbrough is 31 miles away.