The Gloucester Folk Trail returns in 2026 as a flagship city-centre cultural event, bringing together local businesses, venues, artists and audiences for a multi-day celebration of folk music, dance and heritage across Gloucester.
Delivered by Gloucester Business Improvement District, the Folk Trail is designed as a venue-led, city-wide programme that activates pubs, cafés, heritage buildings and public spaces, encouraging movement across the city while supporting the local nighttime and visitor economy.
The 2026 Trail will see performances hosted across a diverse range of city-centre venues, including independent pubs, hospitality businesses, cultural spaces and heritage locations. By programming live music simultaneously across multiple sites, the event encourages audiences to explore different parts of the city, increasing dwell time and supporting participating businesses throughout the weekend.
Venues range from traditional pubs and music bars to cultural institutions and community spaces, each offering a distinct atmosphere while contributing to a shared city narrative. Performances take place in an exciting variety of venues throughout the weekend, including The Folk of Gloucester, Gloucester Guildhall, Roots Café, Dr Foster, The Pelican Inn, The Thirsty Pine, Warehouse 4 at Gloucester Brewery, Café Rene, Oliver’s Bar and more. Artists scheduled to perform include Apple Snatchers, Banter, Danny Hammond, ReBil, Evergreen, Sue Skinner, The Rusty Tubs, Gloucester Folk Choir and many others from traditional to contemporary folk styles.
‘Café René are thrilled to be a part of the Folk Trail 2026. In its ninth year running we have proudly been a supporting venue for that time and this year looks set to be the best year yet. It always brings a really great vibe to the pub and we look forward to welcoming you all back once again! 🎻☘️🌾’ said, Maisie Benfield, events and marketing manager at Café Rene.
At the heart of the Folk Trail is an extensive programme of live folk and roots music, showcasing a broad mix of established performers and emerging talent. In addition to indoor performances, traditional Morris dancing animates Gloucester’s gate streets, creating high-impact visual moments that attract visitors, encourage social sharing and enhance the city’s public realm.
The presence of multiple Morris sides throughout the weekend reinforces Gloucester’s historic identity while adding colour, movement and accessibility to the event. Participating Morris sides for 2026 include the Appleyard Dancers, Beacon Morris, Bow Brook Morris, England’s Glory, Forest of Dean Morris, Gidderskins Morris, Gloucestershire Morris, Hawthorn and Hare Morris, and Lassington Oak Morris, each offering a joyful celebration of folk dance traditions throughout the day.
Beyond performance, the Folk Trail includes workshops, talks and participatory sessions hosted in collaboration with local cultural organisations and museums. These activities broaden the event’s appeal, encourage daytime engagement and support skills-sharing, learning and creative participation.
Official Gloucester Folk Trail 2026 T-shirts are available to pre-order at Gloucester Sports. The merchandise supports the event’s long-term sustainability and strengthens brand recognition for the Folk Trail as a recurring city fixture. This year 20% of all the t-shirts sales will be going towards the maintenance and up keep of the 24/7 defibrillators within the city centre.
The Gloucester Folk Trail plays a key role in supporting the city’s wider economic and cultural objectives by:
- Driving footfall into the city centre
- Supporting hospitality, retail and cultural venues
- Encouraging collaboration between businesses and cultural partners
- Enhancing Gloucester’s reputation as a destination for high-quality, inclusive events
- Showcasing the city’s heritage in a contemporary, accessible way
Largely free to attend, the Folk Trail is designed to be inclusive and welcoming, attracting both residents and visitors while delivering measurable benefits for participating businesses.
About Gloucester Folk Trail
The Gloucester Folk Trail is an annual cultural event delivered by Gloucester BID, celebrating folk music, dance and storytelling through a city-wide, venue-based programme. The Trail has become a cornerstone of Gloucester’s cultural calendar, demonstrating how partnership-led events can drive economic activity while strengthening local identity.
Further information:
www.gloucesterbid.uk/gloucester-folk-trail
