The Edmonton Folk Music Festival has announced its 2026 lineup, featuring a mix of proven favorites and emerging talent. Atlanta hip-hop legends Arrested Development will follow singer-songwriter Cat Power on Saturday night, while Nathaniel Rateliff, known for his powerhouse vocals, closes the festival on Sunday.
Main Stage Highlights
Blues powerhouse St. Paul & the Broken Bones and Victoria folk duo Ocie Elliot will warm up the crowd before Rateliff's solo set. The 47th annual festival takes place August 6-9 on Gallagher Park hill.
More than 60 acts are scheduled, including viral folk band Buffalo Traffic Jam and Icelandic indie-folk group Of Monsters and Men on Friday night. Thursday's lineup features American soul trio Thee Sacred Souls following country troubadour Corb Lund.
Opening Night and Diverse Acts
The music begins Thursday at 6:35 p.m. with L.A.-based R&B trio The Womack Sisters. Other notable performers include Grammy-nominated The Milk Carton Kids, Austin psych jam band The Point, Rockin' Dopsie Jr & the Zydeco Twisters, bittersweet country picker John R. Miller, English four-piece rock band SupaLung, bluegrass sensations Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley, local queer pop artist Caylie G in School of Song, and Quebec folk storyteller Mia Kelly.
Longtime festival producer Terry Wickham highlighted several acts, including Amble, who blend Irish tradition with modern indie folk, playing Friday night. He also mentioned DUG, Gwenifer Raymond, Nick Mulvey, Kate Rusby, and St. Paul & the Broken Bones as standout performers.
Wickham noted that Bombino, a monster guitarist, plays Sunday afternoon, and SYML, known for the multiplatinum hit "Where's My Love," will perform. He also expressed excitement about Icelandic artist Ásgeir, who the festival has long pursued.
Festival Philosophy
Wickham emphasized his booking philosophy: "book great bands." He aims to maintain quality throughout the lineup, negotiating tightly at the top while being generous with up-and-comers. This approach ensures that emerging artists are treated well and are likely to return.
Tickets for the four-day event go on sale June 6. For more information, visit the Edmonton Folk Music Festival website.
