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.

14 April 2026

C is for Cash, Camping and Craft Fair

Jeezo, C’s a popular one....

Cash! There is no ATM here – the nearest one is in Thornhill about 20 mins drive away. 

Camping is available in the field at the back of the George. A donation of min £10 a night is recommended for this. Last year the site was full so a) please set up considerately and b) keep an eye on the Facebook page for updates before you travel. The campsite will not open until 4pm on Thursday and closes at noon on Monday. Please no fires, no dogs off leads, no peeing in the burn (the homes on the other side can see you, and don’t want to) and please keep the noise down after midnight. Stick to these rules or we will kindly but persistently ask you to leave.

There will also be a Craft Fair in the Institute 11-3 on the Saturday. Take cash!

Read more

13 April 2026

B is for Bars & Black Waste

Although the Craigdarroch is not in use this year, don’t worry, the George will be open as usual, as well as a marquee bar in the camping field at the rear of the George, and a bar in the Masonic. The field bar and Masonic will be opening Friday late afternoon and 12-12 Saturday and Sunday.

If you’re missing Tim, you’ll find him in the Institute running the bar there (open from Friday late afternoon and Saturday 12-12). All the bars are run by local folks. Look out for Legs Miserables, who are running the camping field bar as a fundraiser for village outdoor gym equipment.

Black and grey waste disposal will be available on the campsite over the weekend. The suggested donation for campaign is £10 per person per night which helps covers costs such as hiring in waste disposal.

Read more

12 April 2026

A is for Acts

So many amazing live acts! Highlights include Los Chicanos, Gravedancer, Malin Lewis Trio, Sal Tonn, Och Vey, Darach, the Water Chorus, Heather Cartwright and Sam Mabbett , Guillaume Tiberghien , Swelkie, Henry Parker,  Alula Down , Jeri Foreman and Ruth Eliza , Colin and Cat Train, and loads of others, including home grown talent from the village and local young performers on the Up Yer Airts stage. You can view the whole programme right here on the website. Gigs are not ticketed - donations are encouraged.

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