Swanage Folk Festival takes over the seaside town from Friday 10 to Sunday 12 September 2027. The organisers describe it as a family weekend festival by the sea, with more than 50 bands and, they say, the biggest Morris dancing display in the UK; the 2026 festival had 64 dance sides. It is run by volunteers, and any surplus goes to local good causes. The 2027 line-up will be announced at the organisers’ celebration day in January.
Sandpit Field is the hub, with the main stage, festival bar, information tent and food and craft stalls. Ticketed concerts take place on the main stage each evening from Friday to Sunday. On Saturday and Sunday afternoons the concerts move to smaller venues around town. Daytime entertainment on the main stage is free, along with the craft fair, children’s entertainment and the dance displays around town.
The rest of the programme spills into Swanage itself: workshops, pub fringe sessions, a Saturday night ceilidh at Swanage School and a Saturday afternoon dance parade.
Visitor information
Dates: Friday 10 to Sunday 12 September 2027.
Tickets: Sold per concert, or as an all-evening-concerts weekend wristband, through the festival’s ticket page.
Dogs: Well-behaved dogs are allowed on Sandpit Field and at the daytime main stage, subject to the festival’s terms. They are not allowed at evening concerts or the other venues.
Getting there: The main stage is at Sandpit Field in Swanage. Other venues are spread around town, including the Conservative Club, Swanage School and the Catholic Church Hall.
Where to stay
The festival falls in September, after the school holidays, with concerts and dance displays across Swanage. Browse places to stay near Swanage and book early if you want to be close to the venues.
