CELEBRATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF FOLK TALENT FROM REGIONAL VICTORIA
Port Fairy Folk Festival is thrilled to announce the ten outstanding young artists selected for its 2026 Future Folk Young Musician Development Program: Bonnie Jackson, Grace Watt, Harriet Wraith, Isla Dixon, Jasmin Adria, Lucy Joy, Maeve Grieve, Mathilde Anne, Rupert Bullard, and the Sam Curtis Collective.
Now in its fifth year, the Future Folk program continues to nurture emerging musical voices from across regional Victoria, giving artists aged between 12 to 25 the opportunity to perform, collaborate and learn within one of Australia’s most beloved festivals. Supported by Moyne Shire Council through the Victorian Government’s Amplify program, Future Folk provides a platform for young creatives to gain real-world experience as performing artists.
As part of the 2026 Port Fairy Folk Festival, participants will receive one-on-one and group mentoring from established musicians, participate in professional development workshops, and perform in front of festival audiences. Each artist or group will present a 20-minute set on Fiddlers Green in a dedicated emerging artist showcase and feature in a songwriters circle on the Festival’s main stage.
The Future Folk program not only builds performance skills and industry knowledge but also fosters artistic community and confidence. Whether writing heartfelt lyrics, crafting harmonies, or connecting with audiences, these young artists represent the bright future of Victoria’s folk scene.
Port Fairy Folk Festival Program Director Justin Rudge said: “The Future Folk program is one of my significant joys of my programming role at the Folkie- and it keeps going from strength to strength! Watching these young artists find their voices and share their stories with the audience is what folk music is all about – connection, creativity and community. It’s a credit to the young artists, and a hallmark of the growing strength of the Future Folk program that has generated some great artists since its inception.”
Moyne Shire Cr Jordan Lockett said: “We love that local emerging musicians get this chance to play on big stages in front of their community. Future Folk is a huge opportunity to rub shoulders with artists from all over the world, to learn, and to showcase their own amazing talents.”
Port Fairy Folk Festival takes place over the Labour Day long weekend, 6 – 9 March 2026, bringing together music lovers from across Australia to celebrate folk in all its forms — from legendary performers to the next generation of songwriters and storytellers.
Future Folk is delivered in partnership with Port Fairy Folk Festival and Moyne Shire Council’s AMPLIFY program, with funding by the Victorian Government.
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For tens of thousands of years the Pyipgil Gundidj clan has gathered in ceremony on this country. Since 1977 the Port Fairy Folk Festival has been celebrated each year on the land of the Pyipgil Gundidj clans – on Peek Whurrong country. The Port Fairy Folk Festival pays their respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledges that the land we gather on each year for the Festival is the traditional lands of the Peek Whurrong people.
