A: NAFCo is an international gathering celebrating fiddle music and dance traditions from around the North Atlantic. It features concerts, workshops, talks, sessions, and performances and more by world-class artists and academics.
A: NAFCo 2026 will be held from the 24th – 28th June 2026 in Aberdeen, Scotland. NAFCo events are spread across different venues in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. These include North East of Scotland College (NESCol), The Lemon Tree, The Music Hall, Aberdeen Art Gallery Sculpture Court, Cowdray Hall, The Barn - Banchory, St Margarets - Braemar, Tunnels, O’Malley’s.
A: You can book tickets from our website – events are listed by day. Check out the What's On section. Some events are free, while others require tickets. Paid events are individually ticketed.
There is a £1 booking fee already included in your ticket price.
Safe ticket buying – we recommend only buying tickets via our website or the Aberdeen Performing Arts website. All our concerts, workshops, conference tickets are being managed by Aberdeen Performing Arts or Eventbrite. Please beware of unauthorised ticket agents and untrustworthy sites as we cannot guarantee the authenticity of these tickets.
A: Yes, check out the event for specific student and under 12 prices.
A: Yes it’s very important that you bring either your digital e-ticket or a printed version to all NAFCo events. If you don’t have your ticket we may not be able to allow entry.
A: Head to The Aberdeen Performing Arts Website to see a full list of ticket FAQ's.
A: View online or download here
A: These are 1 hour long informal concerts where children and young people and their families are very welcome. Our brilliant artists will keep you entertained and dancing along or joining in will be encouraged! Suitable for all ages!
A: NESCol stands for North East of Scotland College and it is located on Loch Street. It is where all our workshop and conference events are taking place.
This is located in the North East Scotland College (NESCol). You will enter through the Loch Street Entrance. This is also where our workshops and conference events are taking place. We’ll have our NAFCo Information desk where our volunteers will be happy to answer any questions and we will also also have some brilliant stalls, so do come along to say hello.
Yes, absolutely! The NAFCo programme is designed so that there is time to go to lots of different events in one day.
Yes! Our opening concert will finish at 10:30pm which leaves you half an hour to get to a TV to watch the game.
Everyone is welcome – from fans of traditional music to musicians, dancers, academics and students. Events range from professional performances to informal sessions and lectures.
Festival Lounge is the only event with an 18+ age requirement as it is held in a pub.
Young people under 16’s are welcome to join the daytime workshops as long as they are accompanied by a responsible adult.
Under 16's are very very welcome at NAFCo, we just ask that they be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Yes, you can absolutely come, it’s open to everyone and everyone is welcome. It is a ticketed event and you can buy a full week pass or individual day passes for the conference through our website. The conference is made up of different panel discussions, presentations, roundtables and films and we have some fantastic researchers, performers and educators taking part - some of whom you’ll recognise from our concerts and workshops too!
The Big NAFCo Gathering - find out more here!
Yes! Attendees can join workshops, attend open sessions and we will also have a fantastic community event called the Big NAFCo Gathering to join in with as well!
Accommodation and Travel suggestions are available on the NAFCo website. Early booking is recommended, as local accommodation fills quickly during the festival. Check out our handy festival map page - toggle the car park icons on the left of the map to see available car parks.
We have some fantastic discounts on accommodation during NAFCo - check out these fantastic deals on our website.
Yes! We will have NAFCo merchandise available to buy at NESCol, our workshop and conference hub. Artists will also be selling their merchandise at concerts too! We accept both cash and card payments.
Bring your instrument if you'd like to join sessions, comfortable clothes for dancing, and a notebook if attending academic events. Don't forget local currency and plug adapters if visiting internationally.
There will be a lost property station in the NAFCo hub in the North East of Scotland College (NESCol). NAFCo accepts no responsibility for lost or stolen property.
Check out our sponsorship packages – there are loads of options including sponsoring and artist or event. Every kind of support – big or small – is greatly appreciated.