Upton upon Severn Folk Festival

Upton upon Severn Folk Festival 2026

Taking place over the May Bank Holiday weekend in Upton Upon Severn, Worcestershire, the Upton upon Severn Folk Festival 2026 offers a lively celebration of folk music and dance in a scenic riverside setting by the River Severn and Malvern Hills.

Music and Dance

Enjoy traditional concerts, ceilidhs, and Morris dancing across multiple venues including village halls, churches, outdoor stages, and pubs. The festival features spontaneous ceilidhs, Morris teams performing on the village green, and the Acoustic Talent Contest for emerging musicians.

Community and Atmosphere

The festival creates a welcoming village-party vibe with impromptu music sessions in pubs, folk clubs hosting singarounds, and a warm atmosphere where locals and visitors join in song and dance.

Events Highlights

• Grand Procession with dancers and musicians parading through the town
• The Musical Meander boat trip with live music on the River Severn
• Upton Fringe street entertainment featuring stilt walkers, jugglers, and surprise performances

Food, Craft & Family

Along the riverbank, craft stalls and local food vendors sell handmade goods and traditional fare, while workshops offer dance steps for children and beginners, making the festival family-friendly.

Upton-upon-Severn is a small town about 10 miles south of Worcester. By car it’s accessible via the M5 (junction 7 or 8) and then the A38/A4104 exits; parking is available around town (including areas designated for festival parking). For public transport, the nearest train stations are Worcester (Foregate Street or Shrub Hill) and Great Malvern. From Worcester you can catch First Bus route 363 directly to Upton (about 40 minutes), though service runs mainly in daytime on weekdays and is less frequent evenings or Sundays. A taxi or rideshare from Worcester takes roughly 20-30 minutes by road, offering more flexibility when buses are limited.

For air travel, the closest airports are Birmingham (BHX) and Bristol (BRS) – both roughly 1-2 hours’ drive from Upton. Birmingham is usually the easiest gateway, with frequent trains or car rental services onward to Worcestershire. Bristol Airport is also an option, about 2 hours away on the motorways. Cardiff Airport (CWL) is around 1.5-2 hours distant by road and can work for budget flights. Other airports (East Midlands, Manchester or London Heathrow/Gatwick) are farther away (over 2 hours by car) but sometimes used for international flights followed by trains to Worcester. Many visitors simply fly into a major hub and then take a train to Worcester (or Birmingham New Street) before completing the journey by local bus or car.

Accommodation in Upton is limited to a few small B&Bs, inns and guesthouses, and they tend to fill up quickly on festival weekends – book well in advance. For more options, look in nearby Worcester or the Malvern area (each a 15-20 minute drive away), which offer a range of hotels, inns and self-catering cottages. Camping enthusiasts will be glad that the festival usually opens a basic campsite for ticket-holders on the outskirts of town, with toilets and some showers. There are also private campsites and caravan parks within easy reach of Upton. In any case, plan your stay early – the best accommodations and parking spots are snapped up quickly when the festival dates are announced.