The 2026 Celebration event
The 2026 Swanage Folk Festival celebration event was a brilliant mix of community, music and good news. Local folk favourites Purbeck Youth TradFolk Collective and Dark Sheep played to a sell-out crowd in The Mowlem Showbar as friends, volunteers and festival fans gathered to mark the success of the 2025 Swanage Folk Festival. The festival’s “hidden AGM” vibe meant it was informal and fun, but there was plenty of substance too: festival chair Jon Baker reviewed the 2025 Festvial and then announced the 2026 lineup, with a stellar weekend of music and dance set for 11–13 September in Swanage.
The big moment came with the giving: over £10,000 was donated to local charities and community groups, from dance and youth music organisations to hospice care and grassroots support projects, reaffirming the festival’s commitment to the wider Purbeck community.
More info: Swanage News on the Folk Festival’s £10K donations and 2026 lineup
AllSort’d
The Swanage Folk festival were very pleased to hand over a cheque for £500 to AllSort’d at the festival’s 2026 celebration event.
Forest Holme Hospice
The Swanage Folk festival were very pleased to hand over a cheque for £1,000 to Forest Holme Hospice at the festival’s 2026 celebration event.
Julia’s House
The Swanage Folk festival were very pleased to hand over a cheque for £1,000 to Julia’s House at the festival’s 2026 celebration event.
The Mowlem Roof Appeal
The Swanage Folk festival were very pleased to hand over a cheque for £1,000 to the The Mowlem’s roof appeal at the festival’s 2026 celebration event.
The Purbeck Furniture Bank
The Swanage Folk festival were very pleased to hand over a cheque for £500 to the The Purbeck Furniture Bank at the festival’s 2026 celebration event.
Purbeck Youth TradFolk Collective
The Swanage Folk festival were very pleased to hand over a cheque for £2,500 to the the Purbeck Youth TradFolk Collective at their 2026 celebration event.
The Loft
The Swanage Folk festival were very pleased to hand over a cheque for £250 to the The Loft at the festival’s celebration event.
The Swanage Food bank
The Swanage Folk festival were very pleased to hand over a cheque for £1000 to the Swanage Foodbank at the festival’s celebration event.
Swanage & Purbeck Rotary
At this year’s Folk Festival celebration event the Swanage Mayor & Matt Piper (Swanage Folk Festival’s Treasurer) handed £250 to the Swanage & Purbeck Rotary .
4th Swanage Scouts
At this year’s Folk Festival celebration event Matt Piper and the Swanage Mayor handed over a cheque for £1,000 to the Swanage Scouts