MONIAIVE FOLK FESTIVAL

8-10 May 2026

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Welcome to Moniaive Folk Festival

Join us for three magical days of traditional folk music, community celebrations, and unforgettable performances in the picturesque village of Moniaive.

World-Class Music

World-Class Music

Experience incredible performances from renowned folk artists and emerging talents across multiple stages.

Beautiful Setting

Beautiful Setting

Set in the heart of Dumfries and Galloway, Moniaive offers stunning scenery and warm Scottish hospitality.

Community Spirit

Community Spirit

A true community festival featuring local talent, family activities, craft fairs, and village celebrations.

Moniaive Village Illustration

Made by Aidan Nicol and the kids of Moniaive Folk Festival 2026

View Programme Festival Info

Festival Information

Thanks so much for supporting the Moniaive Folk Festival. We are a small volunteer-led outfit, and we rely on donations to keep the festival going. If you weren't able to donate on site this year, or just want to show us a bit of love —

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Moniaive Folk Festival 2026

The MFF committee wishes to say a massive thank you to everyone who made this year’s festival a success. It was, perhaps, the best festival yet!

It was wonderful to welcome young and old from far and wide, festival regulars and new faces, to enjoy new venues, new festival field events and a fine range of musical acts.

It is always a challenge for a group of volunteers to plan and manage a festival in a small rural community and we thank all attendees for their part in making the weekend a success. We also thank all the community groups and businesses who contributed and the local residents for their support and understanding across the weekend.

The continuing success of the festival relies on your generous donations and if you haven’t managed to donate yet, you still can! Just click here. We are already planning next year’s event so please do fill in this feedback form and let us know your thoughts on how the festival was for you and what we can do to improve things.

See you next year for the best festival yet!

The Moniaive Folk Festival Committee

Guidelines

  • The campsite opens after the school closes, around 4pm on Thursday 7th May.
  • Use the bins, recycling points and toilets provided.
  • Do not camp in the street or the public car park.
  • Keep all dogs on a lead.
  • Do not light fires.
  • Keep the noise down after midnight.
  • Bring cash and spend it at local businesses.
  • Show kindness, consideration and understanding to your fellows.
  • Be as generous with your donations as we are with our time, effort and home.
  • Let’s make it the best festival ever.

Latest Updates

News and announcements from the festival team.

29 April 2026

R is for Rubbish

Please use the bins, recycling points and toilets provided across the village and campsite so we can all help keep the camping field and village clean and tidy across the weekend. 

Read more

28 April 2026

Q is for Quality

There is a fantastic selection of quality music programmed this year – please check out the Programme for more information.

Read more

27 April 2026

P is for Parade, Parking, Petrol and Piping

We love the short parade which is a fun opportunity particularly for kids. Look out for our human traffic cones! This year’s theme is Wings and Things – bring your own fancy dress or kids can come to the family tent on Saturday to borrow a costume or wings. The parade is at 4pm on Saturday, meet at the village car park and we'll parade down the High Street to the cherry tree. There will be samba drumming workshop earlier in the day if you want to join in and do a bit of Brazilian style carnival drumming in the parade, or if you play a brass instrument and and can wing it, feel free to bring that along too.

There is car parking in the village car park. Campervan and motorhome owners are asked not to park or sleep in the village car park or streets –  complaints from residents could threaten the future of the festival.

Petrol and diesel are available from Dalwhat Garage on the Friday but the garage is closed Saturday and Sunday. The nearest garages are St John’s Town of Dalry, about 25 minus to the west – these are 24 hour pumps – or in Dumfries, which is about 35 mins south east. There is a 22KW EV charger in the village and a smattering of slow chargers in Thornhill. Please plan ahead!

Don't forget we have a piping competition. This year we have a new piping prize in memory of Scotty, a well known figure in the village who was a keen piper and who passed away suddenly earlier this year. You can enter here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2913360278846936/posts/3205664392949855/

Read more
All Updates

Weekend Programme

Please note that timings and artists are subject to change

Masonic Hall

on the High Street

Friday 8th May

  • 16:00 - 16:30Iwona Głowińska-Denton
  • 16:45 - 17:30Gravedancer
  • 19:00 - 20:00The Water Chorus
  • 21:00 - 22:00Darach

Saturday 9th May

  • 12:00 - 12:30Guillaume Tiberghien
  • 12:40 - 13:10SÀL TONN
  • 13:20 - 13:50Jeri Foreman & Ruth Eliza
  • 14:00 - 14:3021 Melville Street
  • 14:40 - 15:10Alula Down
  • 15:20 - 15:50Honky Tonk Choir
  • 16:00 - 16:30PARADE - on the High Street
  • 16:45 - 17:30The Celandines
  • 19:00 - 20:00Henry Parker
  • 21:00 - 22:00Swelkie

Sunday 10th May

  • 12:40 - 13:10Wendy Stewart harp students
  • 13:20 - 13:50Pete Garnett
  • 14:00 - 14:30Helmut Lemke & Alex Rigg
  • 14:40 - 15:10Matthew Cook
  • 15:20 - 15:50Colin & Cat Train
  • 16:00 - 16:30Cairn Chorus & Balkan Lassies

The George

Garden marquee

Friday 8th May

  • 20:00 - 21:00Heather Cartwright & Sam Mabbett
  • 22:00 - 23:00Los Chichanoes

Saturday 9th May

  • 12:10 - 12:40Jamie Fraser
  • 12:50 - 13:20Joshua White
  • 13:30 - 14:00Megan Oliver
  • 14:10 - 14:40Alex Bailey
  • 14:50 - 15:20Airlock
  • 15:30 - 16:00Jodie Rae
  • 16:00 - 16:30PARADE - on the High Street
  • 17:15 - 18:00Kurlew
  • 20:00 - 21:00Malin Lewis Trio
  • 22:00 - 23:00Och Vey

Sunday 10th May

  • 12:10 - 12:40James McCormick
  • 12:50 - 13:20Ella Campbell
  • 13:30 - 14:00Blanc
  • 14:10 - 14:40Devin Casson
  • 14:50 - 15:20Sunshine & The Silver Seams
  • 15:30 - 17:30Ceilidh

We're delighted to revisit our partnership with Up Yer Airts - who once again are programming the daytime acts at the George.

Up Yer Airts stage

back again at the George

Fri & Sat: Afternoons

Open Mic Stage

Glencairn Memorial Institute

Friday & Saturday: Fri 4-7pm Sat 12-4pm

Festival Parade

High Street

Saturday: 16:00 - 16:30

Piping Competition

St Ninian's Church

Saturday: 10:00 - 17:00

Craft Fair

Glencairn Memorial Institute

Saturday & Sunday: 11:00 - 15:00

Family & Craft Workshops

Camping field

Saturday & Sunday: All day

Session Space

Glencairn Memorial Institute

Friday & Saturday: Fri 7 - 12 & Sat 4 - 12

Session Space

The George

All weekend: Afternoon & Evening

FAQs

FAQs

Can I get in for free? We'd prefer you didn't! We want our festival to get better every year. For that to happen we need you to contribute donations. You can use cash or card to make a donation. Donation points will be clearly marked. There will also be volunteers with yellow donation buckets walking around collecting donations for the festival.

Can I bring my dog? Yes, well behaved dogs are welcome but must be on a lead at all times and cleaned up after. You may be the best dog owner in the world, but plenty of folk don't like dogs running wild so please, keep them on a lead. Keep in mind that not all indoor venues will allow dogs

Can I play my own music and instruments? Of course! But no amplified or loud music on the campsite after midnight please.

Is there an open stage? Yes, there will be an open stage in the Glencairn Memorial Institute this year. This will be run on a first come first served basis and limited to one slot per person/act to allow as many people the opportunity to play as possible.

Is there an ATM in the village? No. The nearest ATM is in Thornhill which is approximately 9 miles from Moniaive.

Where can I get fuel? In the village, Dalwhat Garage sells fuel. They're open Mon–Fri from 7:30am–6pm. Closed on Saturday & Sunday.

Are caravans and camper vans allowed? Yes, but please try to keep to the top end of the field. If you are arriving on Friday, please avoid doing so between 3–4pm as the village gets busy with school traffic. Our streets are small and congestion doesn't take long to build up!

Can I just camp? Yes, and please donate accordingly.

What facilities are there in the camping field? There will be toilets, hand sanitising points, cold water supply & black water disposal.

Food & Drink

  • Late Night Café at the Glencairn Memorial Institute
  • Piccolo Italia
  • The George Hotel

Services

  • Watson’s Grocers
  • Dalwhat Garage
  • Defibrillator — Glencairn Memorial Institute
  • First Aid — Camping field
  • The Hive Community Shop

Getting Here

Moniaive is located in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.

By Car: Accessible from A76 and A702

Parking: Car parks throughout the village

Public Transport: Limited bus services