More exciting names have been announced for Cambridge Folk Festival weekend, Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd August at Cherry Hinton Hall, completing a dazzling and diverse line-up for this year’s event. Second-release tickets go on sale on Friday, 30th January, following a sold-out first release, and can be purchased here.
Joining Saturday night headliner Frank Turner and Sunday night co-headliners Suzanne Vega and Richard Thompson, with Zara Phillips, are: This Is The Kit, aka Winchester-born songwriter and musician Kate Stables. Accompanied by Rozi Plain (bass), Jamie Whitby-Coles (drums), and Neil Smith (guitar). Also, Seth Lakeman, who was catapulted into the music mainstream when he was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize in 2005 for his album “Kitty Jay”, inspired by the legends and stories of Dartmoor, where he grew up. Its follow-up, the gold-selling “Freedom Fields”, celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2026.
Then there’s Skinny Lister, who have been at the forefront of first-rate folk/punk in the UK, plus folk-punk-indie-pop five-piece from Falkirk, Brògeal. As well as The Songs of Joni Mitchell ft. Jesca Hoop, Lail Arad & more, Nick Harper, Ustad Noor Bakhsh, from near Pasni, Balochistan, the maestro of the Balochi Benju (a keyed Zither), Ruairidh Maclean a.k.a RuMac, Mark Radcliffe & David Boardman, Nick Cope, Amelia Coburn, Amaidi, and many more (see day splits below)
The festival weekend at Cherry Hinton Hall, August 1-2, will be the centrepiece of 2026’s activities. A more intimate event, returning to the Festival’s roots, the weekend will feature two full days of live music and activities, with optional three-night camping available. The prestigious Christian Raphael Prize will once again be open to emerging artists, offering invaluable financial assistance, performance opportunities, and industry exposure. Previous winners include Katherine Priddy, Angeline Morrison, and Frankie Archer. One of the priorities of the organisers for 2026 has been to make access to the Festival as affordable as possible, given the current economic challenges facing many people. Second release tickets for the Cherry Hinton weekend, available from Friday 30 January, will be priced at:
Day tickets: Adults: £65; Concessions (including Young Folk 14-25) £45; Children (0-13) Free
Weekend tickets: Adults: £130; Concessions (including Young Folk 14-25) £90; Children (0-13) Free
The organisers note that prices are subject to booking fees, and you should check out the website for concessions, payment plans, camping, and parking information. There is limited camping available but they advise to book early to avoid disappointment.
In an exciting addition this year, the Festival umbrella reaches wider than ever. Organisers will work with local venues, promoters and folk clubs to schedule a variety of events throughout the year and in the run-up to the Cherry Hinton Hall weekend in multiple venues across the city. These will include concerts at Cambridge Corn Exchange on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 July, and The Junction on 28 July. Cambridgeshire Music will host the Summer School again in 2026, 27-30 July, with a finale performance on Saturday 1 August during the Cherry Hinton Hall weekend.
Here are those day splits:
Saturday
Stage 1
Frank Turner
Seth Lakeman
Skinny Lister
The Songs of Joni Mitchell….
Frog on a Bike with Mary Panton
Ustad Noor Bakhsh
Amaidi
Nick Cope
Stage 2
Amelia Coburn
RuMac
Man the Lifeboats
Nick Harper
Maddie Morris
Katacombs
Cambridgeshire Summer School
Sunday
Stage 1
Richard Thompson with Zara Phillips
Suzanne Vega
This is the Kit
Brògeal
The Deep Blue
The Thorn
George Boomsman
Stage 2
Mark Radcliffe & David Boardman
Frog on a Bike with Mary Panton
Ollie Cook & The Hogwash
Katie Spencer
Tom Jenkins
Christina Alden & Alex Patterson
