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2026 Performer Applications -

Performer Applications for the 2026 National Folk Festival, 2nd - 6th April 

 
We're thrilled that you are applying for the 2026 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 and Michael.   

WE WANT YOU!  

A diversity of artists and groups makes up the heart of the National Folk Festival: musicians, dancers, poets, visual artists, circus performers and street artists 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 our Festival ethos of empowering people to connect, create and celebrate, who share our passion for the Festival ethos, 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 excellence year after year.  

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).  

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. 

  • 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. National Folk Festival offers an artist camping area for all booked artists who want to bring their own gear. A nominal charge may apply in 2026. There are also 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.  
  • Professional artist/s wishing to support an emerging artist: if you would like to donate a performance fee to support emerging artists, you are welcome to. This will not affect our selection process, and you can still apply for other costs to be met.  
  • Session musician (Pickers tickets): if you or your group would like to lead sessions and receive a Festival ticket/s. You do not need performance video or social media links to apply for these tickets, a simple phone video recording of you doing your thing at home or at session is all we need.   
  • Young Folk: if you consider yourself an emerging artist, 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.  

In addition, Australian artists and groups will receive an additional 12% of their performer fees as superannuation where applicable.  
 
Applications close: 20th July, 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.    

    Monday June 17th - 6pm  
    Monday July 10th - 6pm  

     

    Act Name

    Act Name

    Act biography for publishing (if you are selected, we may edit this 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, 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
    Upload Act Photo
    (MAX SIZE 10MB)

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

    Please share 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 children 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 youtube videos (preferred) recordings that best represent what you would be presenting at the Festival. Live video (meaning a live performance was video recorded) is preferred, and 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 for these tickets, a simple phone video recording of you doing your thing at home or at a session is all we need. 

    URL
    URL

    Web links
    Website
    Instagram
    Facebook
    Youtube
    Spotify
    Soundcloud

    Requested Fee

    Please refer to ‘Payment’ above as a useful guide. 
    Please select


    What is your requested total fee in $AU (performer fees plus any incidental costs) ex-GST?

    Total fee
    Please tick this box to indicate that you understand that unless otherwise negotiated, this request is an all-inclusive fee (this means accomodation, travel etc will not be paid for or provided on top of this fee)
    Please tick this box if you, or the members of your group, are Australian residents for superannuation purposes

    Superannuation

    What is the performance fee (ex-GST) component of your total fee? Do not include incidental costs such as travel and accommodation. Superannuation, where applicable, will be paid on this amount. 
    Performer fee
    What are the incidental costs (ex-GST) component of your total fee? This includes travel and accommodation.
    Incidental Fee

    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

    Please select
    Country (if not Australia)

    Postcode
    Postcode (if Australian)

    Do you or anyone in your group identify     as:

    First Nations

    Please select


    Culturally or linguistically diverse (non-English speaking background)
    Please select

    A person living with a disability
    Please select

    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 group?
    Number

    When was your act last booked to perform at the National Folk Festival?
    Options

    Will any members of your act also be applying in other acts? If so, please list them here
    List other acts here

    Contact details
    Contact Name
    Email
    Mobile Phone Number


    Please select your role

    Options:

    Availability

    Which days are you available to perform? See information on availability above: we prefer artists to be available for 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 arrange rehearsal/workshop times at the Festival, and present you or other members of your act in a 5-15 minute slot. 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, 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 would be interested in getting 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 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 2026, the theme will be 'Female Singers of the 60s' (think Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, Dusty Springfield, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Carole King...) If you would like to take part, please let us know here.
    Infinite Song Contest