Canada’s longest-running free-admission folk festival is now in its 37th year! More than 16,000 people come together to enjoy our region’s second largest cultural event.

Mark your calendars for August 13-16, 2026 for four days of music, culture and community as we come together on the hillside at Nicholls Oval Park next to the mighty Otonabee River.

As a volunteer-run registered charity, your community leadership and support is vital to the success of promoting and preserving this cultural gem that’s inclusive, welcoming and accessible to everyone. In 2025, Peterborough Folk Festival welcomed over 30 artists and bands, including 13 local performers. The lineup once again feature exciting musical performances with full gender parity and strong diversity, including Indigenous artists, artists of colour and artists from the LGBTQ+ communities.

Peterborough Folk Festival’s mandate is to foster the artistic and professional development of local culture. Each year, we award an Emerging Artist of the Year Award, and encourage local artists to apply as performers.

Peterborough Folk Festival has among the highest representation of different communities in our musical line-up – female artists, Indigenous artists, and artists who identify as LGBTQ+ - of any festival. We are also one of the most environmentally sustainable festivals in the land, including washing reusable dishes and cutlery by the thousands, composting and recycling to keep waste to a minimum.

The main festival on Saturday and Sunday is free admission, with donations greatly appreciated and encouraged.  Peterborough Folk Festival is a volunteer-run non-profit registered charity organization. We rely on the generosity of our sponsors and private donors (like you!) so we can continue to put on a great weekend of music and arts.