Portarlington is gearing up for a huge June long weekend.

The National Celtic Folk Festival returns from 5 to 8 June 2026, bringing four days of music, dance, storytelling, theatre, food and culture to The Bellarine coast. Across the weekend, the festival takes over Portarlington with live performances, workshops, markets and plenty happening along the waterfront. There will be pipe bands through town, packed venues, late night sessions and a pretty good excuse for a winter trip to The Bellarine.

Now in its 22nd year, the festival spreads across more than 10 venues throughout town, with artists arriving from Ireland and Scotland alongside some of Australia’s best folk acts. It’s become one of Victoria’s most loved winter festivals and a solid excuse to swap the city for a few days by the bay.

National Celtic Folk Festival, Portarlington Foreshore

What’s on at the National Celtic Folk Festival 2026

This year’s line up is stacked. International acts including Séamus and Caoimhe, Saltaire and The Bath Street Boys are heading to Portarlington direct from Ireland, alongside Scottish artists Rebecca Hill and Charlie Stewart. Aussie favourites like Austral, Claymore, The Maes and Double Shot Maggie are also on the bill.

Expect everything from huge crowd filling performances to smaller late night sessions tucked inside pubs and halls around town. Music spills out onto the streets across the whole weekend, so even walking between venues becomes part of the atmosphere.

Beyond the music, there’s theatre, storytelling, workshops and cultural experiences running daily. Michael Veitch’s HELL SHIP joins the theatre program this year, alongside new Australian productions and interactive performances.

Dance remains a huge part of the festival too, with céilís, workshops and performances happening right across the weekend. You don’t need to know what you’re doing either. Half the fun is giving it a crack.

The heavy games are back and honestly, there is something very entertaining about watching people launch giant objects through the air beside the bay.

You’ll also catch hurling matches across the weekend, one of Ireland’s oldest and fastest sports. Even if you have no idea what’s happening at first, give it five minutes and suddenly you’ll be yelling from the sidelines like you’ve followed it your whole life.

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Come hungry

You’ll probably work up an appetite between venues.

The Celtic Kitchen returns this year across the three days with Irish chef Declan McGovern bringing traditional Irish favourites to the festival for breakfast at The Morning After the Craic, in a masterclass and as part of a cook off between two chefs. While market stalls and session bars keep the snacks, drinks and sweet treats rolling all weekend.

Outside the festival, Portarlington’s food scene is worth making time for too. Grab breakfast or coffee at Pier Street before the first set of the day, settle in for lunch at nearby wineries, or spend an afternoon exploring the Bellarine Taste Trail.

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More to see while you’re here

The National Celtic Folk Festival makes a good base for a longer weekend on The Bellarine.

Book a tasting at one of the region’s wineries, hop aboard a mussel tour in Portarlington, or spend some time exploring coastal towns nearby including St Leonards, Ocean Grove and Queenscliff. Winter is a great time to enjoy the coast.

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Where to stay during the festival

Festival accommodation fills quickly, so it’s worth booking early if you’re planning to stay across the long weekend.

Bellarine Bayside Holiday Parks is one of the festival’s long running accommodation partners and sits close to the action. Stay in a self contained cabin, bring the caravan or book one of the beachside pods. Festival camping packages are also available with combined ticket and accommodation offers.

Accommodation @ Curlewis Golf Club is around 15 minutes from the festival site, with bus transfers available across the weekend. Festival ticket holders can also access accommodation discounts during the event period.

In Geelong, Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong and Eden Oak have festival transport options running to and from Portarlington.

Down the coast, Ocean Grove Holiday Park is another good option if you’re turning the festival into a longer stay on The Bellarine.

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Getting to the National Celtic Folk Festival

There are a few ways to get to Portarlington across the weekend. Drive around The Bellarine, catch Port Phillip Ferry across the bay, or base yourself in Geelong and jump on the dedicated festival bus services.

Searoad Ferries is offering return vehicle specials during the festival, while Epic Taste Experiences will run dedicated festival buses on Friday, Saturday and Sunday between accommodation partners and the festival precinct.

If you’re travelling from Melbourne, V/Line trains run regularly from Southern Cross Station to Geelong, with PTV Route 60 buses continuing through to Portarlington across the festival weekend. Just keep in mind the final public bus back to Geelong leaves around 7pm, so dedicated late night festival buses will also run Friday to Sunday for ticket holders staying in Geelong and partner accommodation locations.

For interstate visitors flying into Avalon Airport, shuttle services connect the airport to Geelong Station where you can continue on to Portarlington by bus or festival transfer services.

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