The National Celtic Folk Festival has announced its return for 2023, bringing along top international and national performers to the Bellarine in June.
From June 9 to 12th, the National Celtic Folk Festival (NCFF) will celebrate its 19th year bringing the best in Celtic culture to the shores of Portarlington, Wadawurrung Country.
For the first time since 2019, the festival will showcase a full roster of international talent, as part of its collection of artists who will bring exciting, dynamic, and cultural performances to the Bellarine.
Some of the first artists announced include Daoirí Farrell (Ireland), Sorcha Costello, Conor Connolly and Pádraig Ó Dubhghaill (Ireland), Colin Lillie (Alice Springs) and Charm of Finches (Melbourne)
National Celtic Festival First Lineup
- Daoirí Farrell
- Sorcha Costello, Conor Connolly and Pádraig Ó Dubhghaill
- Colin Lillie
- Charm of Finches
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The National Celtic Folk Festival is widely recognised as the premier Celtic festival in the southern hemisphere. Since finding its home in Portarlington nineteen years ago, the festival continues to grow and evolve, making it Australia’s largest and most diverse Celtic gathering, attracting audiences and performers from across the country and around the world.
The festival is a not-for-profit organisation, led by a team of passionate and committed committee members and a growing group of over 300 volunteers from Portarlington and surrounding areas, and attracts over 17,000 people to the coastal township of Portarlington, on the Bellarine Peninsula. It is an exciting winter party of culture, arts and music, and is not to be missed
“As the biggest Celtic festival in Australia, we pride ourselves on bringing in new, fresh performers for festival goers to enjoy,” said Una McAlinden, Festival Director of the National Celtic Folk Festival.
“This is the first year, since COVID, that we are back full tilt and we are ready to host more international and national artists this year.”
Over the three day festival, the program is packed full of culture, folk and traditions including Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Cornish, Manx, Breton, Galician and Asturian cultures. Some highlights include bush dances, heavy games, Celtic martial arts, ceilis, live theatre, pipe bands, workshops and, new in 2023, hurling.
The 2023 National Celtic Folk Festival will take place 9-12 June, 2023 in Portarlington, Wadawurrung Country, Victoria. Tickets are on sale now, with weekend and camping tickets available. These can be purchased here.
