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2027 Performer Applications -

Performer Applications for the 2027 National Folk Festival, Canberra, Ngunnawal Country

Thurs 25th -  Mon 29th March, Easter Long Weekend

We're thrilled that you are applying for the 2027 National Folk Festival! As seasoned participants in the festival process, we understand the excitement and effort that goes into these applications. Our goal is to make this process straightforward, open-ended, and meaningful for both you and us. We greatly appreciate the time and energy you dedicate to preparing your content, and we look forward to reviewing each application as we build an outstanding Festival for the folk community to enjoy! 

Artistic Directors, Chris & Holly.   

WE WANT YOU!  

A diversity of artists and groups make the National Folk Festival a unique gathering: musicians, dancers, poets, visual artists, circus and street performers among them.  
 
The National Folk Festival actively encourages applications from our First Nations Peoples, our LGBTQI+ communities, people from a non-English speaking background, and people living with diverse access needs, alongside artists with young children. We ask all folks to include in their application any additional costs or supports they may need to participate in the Festival. 

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR? 

In particular, we are looking for acts who align with and share our passion for the Festival ethos of empowering people to connect, create and celebrate, and can articulate how their proposal addresses our four guiding principles:

  • Excellence in artistic vibrancy and community engagement.    
  • Integration between performers and audiences, fostering creative participation.   
  • Inclusivity ensuring all feel welcomed, with a diversity of perspectives showcased.   
  • Sustainability, developing folk communities and cultures to nurture traditions into the future.  

We prefer if artists are: 

  • available for at least a three-day period during the Festival (most artists/groups perform across three consecutive days)  
  • willing to engage in activities that integrate performers and audiences (workshops, sessions, collaborations, forums, flash performances, interviews, or other creative ideas you may have). Most artists/groups will have two engagements per scheduled day.  
  • prioritising live performance over recorded music (e.g., we prefer live music for dance or circus acts. If you need help finding live musicians, let us know in your application).  

DOES THE 2027 FESTIVAL HAVE A SPECIFIC THEME THAT APPLICANTS SHOULD BE AWARE OF?
As you prepare your artist application, we encourage you to consider the 2027 Festival theme of participation, and how your application supports folk culture.

Following our 60th year celebrations in 2026, the 2027 Festival will put participation at its heart. The Festival is a place where folks sing, dance, play, recite, learn and create side by side. Folk culture lives not only on stages, but in shared acts of making, listening, experiencing, and doing. By championing participation, we strengthen connections across cultures, world views, and generations. Our stories, tunes, skills and values are held, cherished, and passed on by many hands, feet, and voices. Within this living exchange, traditions flourish, breathe, and transform.

Alongside performances, we are seeking artists who are passionate and skilled in supporting learning, participation, collaborations and shared cultural experiences, for both long-term Festival goers and first-time attendees.

PREVIOUS FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES 

  • If you've never performed at the National Folk Festival or haven't appeared recently, we particularly encourage you to apply.  
  • If you have appeared at the Festival in recent years, please describe what will be different about this year’s proposal.  
  • The Festival may book and confirm a selection of performers prior to the closing date, so we encourage you to apply early.  

FEE REQUESTS AND PAYMENT DETAILS  

On the application form you will be asked to state your requested fee, with an option to provide a breakdown or explanation which helps us understand your circumstances. 

  • Booked artists and groups are paid a DELIVERED FEE, covering travel, accommodation, and any other costs incurred, unless explicitly negotiated. Include these costs in your fee requests as necessary. The National Folk Festival offers an artist camping area (BYO gear) for all booked artists. A $50 charge per power cable/site will apply in 2027, first in best dressed, and will be collected from you directly at the camp site. There are also powered sites that artists can book separately, discounts offered to artists for on-site rent-a-tents, and local hotel accommodation. 
  • Artists and groups receiving a fee must provide their own Public Liability Insurance.  

You will also be asked to indicate if you are a:

  • Professional artist/s with an ABN or Hobby Form (Statement by Supplier): we have a minimum performance fee of $250 per day per artist, three days minimum. You may request a higher fee. If you expect to be paid, please select this option. 
  • Large group/community group/act (choirs, dance groups, street bands etc): there is no minimum fee. However, you may still request a fee where appropriate. Any artist fees to individuals (e.g. choir conductor, musical director, etc), attract the minimum fee of $250 per day per artist. Please note, in 2027, complimentary artist tickets for large comunity groups will be capped at 30. If this cap is exceeded, a $50 fee will be charged per artist, up to a maximum cap of 50 artists per act. This is to assist covering our onsite costs.
    • Session musician: if you or your group would like to lead sessions and receive a Festival ticket/s in return. You do not need performance video or social media links to apply for these tickets, a simple phone video recording of you playing tunes at home or at a session is all we need. You may also apply as a Professional Artist within the same application and we will consider both applications. 
    • Young Folk: if you consider yourself an emerging artist, and you and the majority of members in your group are under 25, you can apply to perform one concert in a Young Folk Showcase and receive a Festival ticket/s. You may also apply as a Professional Artist within the same application and we will consider both applications.  

    Australian artists and groups will receive an additional 12% of the performance component of their fee as superannuation where applicable. 
     
    Applications close: 19th July 2026, 11:59pm.  

    FOR MORE INFORMATION   

      • We will also be holding online information sessions at the following times, where any questions can be asked. Sign up to our mailing list and connect with us through our socials to receive further details, or visit the artist application page of our website on the day for a video call link.    

      Tuesday June 16th - 6pm  
      Thursday July 2nd - 6pm  

       

      Act Name

      Act Name

      Act biography for publishing (if you are selected, we may edit this to fit our style guide as required)

      You may find the following style guide helpful when writing your bio. It's designed to help, not hinder!

      • Between 50 – 80 words

      • Write in the third person ('The Gingerbread People...' rather than 'Myself and my mates...')

      • Use active rather than passive language (The Gingerbread People play...' rather than 'The Gingerbread People are known for playing)

      • Important information to include: What people will hear, see and experience at your show, such as genre/s, cultural background, instruments, personnel, vibe, look and feel.

      • Avoid superlatives and hyperbole. Here is an example of what not to write: ‘Multi-Award winning act redefining musical expression itself ‘The Gingerbread People’ has wowed audiences throughout the country and unquestionably established themselves as the absolute best new folk supergroup in all of Australia’.

      • The point of the bio is to accurately and efficiently describe your act, generate interest for the reader, and encourage them to highlight your act in their program.

      Act Bio

      Act photo for publishing
      Act Photo
      (MAX SIZE 10MB)
      Please upload a hi-res file for publication.

      What kind of event/s are you offering to present at the Festival?

      Please share up to 5 descriptions of what you are offering to present or be involved with at the Festival. This may include concerts, workshops, sessions, dances, forums, collaborations, flash performances, interviews, or any other creative ideas. We are particularly interested in suggestions that help us enact our Festival ethos. Refer to ‘What We Are Looking For’ above as a useful guide. You can submit up to five separate items. Click 'add another' for each item. For example, your act might like to:

      • Lead a main Special Event such as a dance party or ball, parade, forum, or interviewing other artists

      • Lead a workshop offered by a band member, or a session, or a daily Festival Ensemble (e.g. Festival Choir, Festival Dance, Festival Squeezeboxes)

      • Collaborate with other artists in an event, including forums, parades, concerts and dances (e.g. dance callers wanting to work with a band)

      • Present outdoor unamplified street performances – either roaming or stationary – throughout the Festival site

      • Offer something specifically for families or young people, or tell us what you’ve aways dreamt of doing/running at a Festival, but never thought you'd have the opportunity...


      Maximum 300 words for each entry. 

      Event Title
      Event Type: You may select more than one option to best describe each event.
      Event Description

      Live video links

      Please provide direct links to one or two live video recordings that accurately show what you would be presenting at the Festival. Live video (meaning a live performance that was video and audio recorded) is preferred. The quality of the recording is not of primary importance, as long as we can clearly see, hear and feel the nature of your performance or workshop, and how you engage with your audience. We prefer a complete performance of a song, piece or show, rather than a compiled show reel.

      If applying for a Session/Pickers ticket/s, you do not need a formal performance video or social media links to apply. A simple phone video recording of you playing tunes at home or at a session is all we need. 

      Please check that you are sharing a link with direct access, without any passwords or need to request file access.

      Live Video URL 1
      Live Video URL 2

      Web links
      Website
      Video streaming account link (Youtube, Vimeo, etc)
      Please note: the National Folk Festival no longer uses, assesses or observes streaming statistics from Spotify - click here for more information.
      Audio streaming account link (Bandcamp, Tidal, Qobuz, etc)
      Instagram
      Facebook

      Requested Fee

      Please refer to ‘Payment’ above as a useful guide. You may apply as a Professional artist, and also as a Young Folk and/or Session artist, and we will assess your application for each category. 
      Artist Type


      What is your requested total fee in $AUD?

      This is your performance fee plus any incidental costs, excluding GST (Goods and Services Tax)

      Please note: the National Folk Festival negotiates fees. If you request less than our minimum fee and we choose to book you, we will increase your fee to match our minimum fee structure.

      Total Fee
      Please tick this box to indicate that you understand that unless otherwise negotiated, this request is an all-inclusive fee (this means accommodation, travel etc will not be paid for or provided on top of this fee)
      What is the performance fee (ex-GST) component of your total fee?

      Do not include incidental costs such as travel and accommodation.
      Performer Fee
      What are the incidental costs (ex-GST) component of your total fee? This includes travel and accommodation.
      Incidental Costs

      Note: Performer Fee + Incidental Costs must = Total Fee.       


      Notes on requested fee

      If you would like to share with us how you built your fee proposal, you can do so here. 

      Additional fee breakdown (optional)


      Are you an International artist?

      International artist?
      Country (if not Australia)

      Postcode
      Postcode (if Australian)

      Do you or anyone in your group identify       as:

      First Nations

      First Nations Artist/s?


      Culturally or linguistically diverse (non-English speaking background)
      Culturally or linguistically diverse?

      A person living with a disability
      A person living with a disability?

      What best describes your gender/s? This is an optional question that we ask to help us identify, support and celebrate gender diversity at the Festival.
      Gender/s (Optional)

      How many people are in your act?
      Total number of people in your act
      Please note: In 2027, complimentary artist tickets for large comunity groups will be capped at 30. As you have selected more than 30, a $50 fee will be charged per artist, up to the maximum cap of 50 artists per act. This is to assist covering our onsite costs.
      How many of these are under 18 years old?

      Has your act performed at the National Folk Festival before? Please select all that apply.
      When did you last play at the NFF?

      Are you or members of your act also applying in other acts? If so, please list those acts here.
      List other acts here

      Contact details

      Please note:       Only one contact person for each act will be accepted, and all communication for that act must go through that person. If you would like to change the act's contact person and their details, please let us know. 
      Contact Name
      Email
      Mobile Phone Number


      Please select your role

      Applicant Type

      Availability

      Which days are you available to perform? We prefer artists to be available for least a minimum of three consecutive days.
      Days Available:

      Optional participation opportunities

      Live Interview

      Are you interested in being part of an artist interview on stage during the Festival for audiences to learn more about your act?
      Artist Interview

      Festival Made

      The Festival has always been a place for musical reunions and new encounters. We invite you and/or members of your act to take part in our Festival Made concert series where more off-the-cuff, informal, or special collaborative performances take place. This could be between musicians, dancers, spoken word artists, choirs, and street performers. We'll help pair you with suitable collaborators and arrange rehearsal times at the Festival if needed. You (or other members of your act) then prepare and present a 5-15 minute slot with your new-found folk friends. These concerts are well attended and can increase your exposure at the Festival with potential new fans who might not otherwise see you perform, and are a great way to connect with other artists. If you would like to take part, please let us know here.
      Festival Made Collaborative Concert Series

      Festival Parade

      On the final day of the Festival (Monday), a fabulous parade takes place, with many artists taking part alongside our Family Festival and Community Arts teams who lead folks of all ages around the Festival grounds prior to the start of the Farewell Concert. If you'd like to be involved please let us know here.
      Festival Parade

      Infinite Song Contest

      Each year, a well known artist or theme is chosen for the hugely popular Infinite Song Contest. Artists performing at the Festival choose a song from that artist/theme and arrange their own unique, quirky, funny, poignant or outrageous performance, often drawing from their own musical genre/background. Heats are run each day in the Marquee, with the Grand Finale held in the Budawang on the final day. Taking part is a great way to increase your exposure at the Festival, and gain new fans who might not otherwise see you perform. The winner performs their arrangement in the Farewell Concert. In 2027, the theme will be The Beatles. If you would like to take part, please let us know here.
      Infinite Song Contest