Festival Artists 2026
The 49th Annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival is a weekend celebration of world-class performances at ʔəy̓alməxʷ / Iy̓ál̓mexw Jericho Beach Park! Our incredible festival lineup features 40+ artists, representing the best of contemporary roots and blues, indie folk, and world music. Browse this listing to learn more about all the artists who will gather at the beach for VFMF 2026.
Hazlett
Australian-born, Sweden-based Hazlett’s music marries intimate, emotionally rich songwriting with a quietly captivating sound.
Billy Bragg
Uncompromising musical force who epitomizes the spirit and essence of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival.
Valerie June
“Organic moonshine roots music,” with a distinctive, radiant voice, glorious songwriting, and open-hearted joy.
Aysanabee
Hypnotic, melodic, Indigenous soul by multi-instrumentalist storyteller with soaring song stylings.
Ruby Waters
Ontario-born, Squamish-based indie artist delivers raw, soulful, and unapologetically playful performances.
Tami Neilson
Her glorious voice and powerful live performances have won admiration and support worldwide.
Amistat
Two brothers, one voice: intimate and soulful with soaring harmonies and human connection..
Joshua Burnside
This Belfast-based musician creates songs at once rooted in tradition and radically experimental.
Ken Pomeroy
A fresh voice in contemporary folk music, writing songs infused with nature, pure and expansive as the plains.
Anna Tivel
Unforgettable poetry and pure melodies from one of the finest storytellers in modern folk music.
Bia Ferreira
An amazing musician, a dedicated anti-racism activist, and a fierce advocate for LGBTQ2S+ folks everywhere.
BIM
Benin International Musical (BIM) collective celebrates voodoo culture as a force of positivity, connection, and humanity.
Brianna Lizotte
Honouring tradition with a toe-tapping kitchen-party: Métis fiddling with heart, soul, and stomp.
Brighde Chaimbeul
Master of the Scottish smallpipes melds Celtic experimentalism and mystic drone into 21st century ambience.
Cousin Harley
Appalachian caterwauling or spirited Count Basie swing, Cousin Harley has something for almost everyone.
El Balcón
Get up and dance to Mexican rhythms filtered through a global lens anchored by acoustic bass and hard-driving percussion.
Empanadas Ilegales
Kaleidoscopic, hypnotic sounds driven by cumbia rhythms, surf-rock guitar textures, salsa melodies, and free-jazz-inspired horns.
Ruby Singh & the Future Ancestors
Vancouver based melodic visionaries create living tapestries of sound that shake the dust off of traditional music.
Gamksimoon
Intricate rhythms and melodies of pre-contact Ts’msyen music blends with the raw power of rock and roll.
Haley Blais
Vancouver singer-songwriter explores the joys and banalities of the every day with profundity, grace, and humour.
Jeffrey Martin
Raw and poignant portraits of everyday angels and demons that will touch you and leave you lost in the moment.
John Smith
Beloved British songwriter has been winning over audiences for 20 years with his warmth, captivating songs, and innovative playing.
Kazdoura
JUNO-winning duo channels displacement, identity, and genre-blending into one of the most compelling new sounds in Arabic music.
La Déferlance
The traditional music of Quebec with a Celtic edge, played with energy, skill and precision.
Lindi Ortega
A genre-bending master storyteller with magnetic presence and a haunting, beautiful voice.
Luke Wallace
Powerful, sing-along performances that transform urgent social and environmental issues into hopeful anthems for change.
Maruja Limón
Woman-led band blends the soulful strains of traditional flamenco with an audacious blend of rumba rhythms and a burst of punk zest.
Mitsune
Wildly original Japanese folk fusion band whose driving rhythms, hypnotic grooves, and infectious joy sweeps audiences off their feet.
Sahra Halgan
Remarkable singer, cultural force and storyteller carrying the soul of Somaliland to the world.
Sauljaljui
Indigenous Taiwanese traditions meet global sounds to share Paiwan culture with the world.
THE Slocan Ramblers
Roots music without pretension, powerful enough to cut through the fog and chart a more hopeful course.
Surf Hat
Shimmering blend of classic pop, surf, psychedelia, folk, and indie rock, custom-made for that feel-good summer festival vibe.
Teddy Thompson
His stock and trade is pain and heartache, yet he sends shivers of joy down your spine every time he sings.
Tina Dico
Iconic Danish artist brings honest and intimate songs about the people and the world around her.
Yagódy
Modern Ukrainian folk, like a love letter from the past that hasn’t arrived yet.
Thanks to our team of volunteer writers who put together the artist bios, giving us a small insight into these incredible artists. Thank you to Nou Dadoun, Douglas Heselgrave, Erin Mullan, Larry Pellizzari, Darrell Stables, and Emma Lancaster.