The National Folk Festival’s 2027 Folk School will again be delivered in partnership with the ANU School of Music, cementing the School’s position as the program’s educational home and a key contributor to the Festival’s expanding learning initiatives. Running from 23–25 March 2027, the Folk School is held entirely at the School of Music, where participants undertake three days of immersive music and dance tuition with leading international and Australian folk artists.
The School of Music provides all teaching spaces, accessibility infrastructure, classroom facilities, café services and proximity to transport, enabling the Folk School to operate as a fully integrated pre‑Festival learning hub. Dedicated rooms within the building host each teaching stream, from fiddle and banjo to guitar, harmonica and percussive dance, with the School’s existing AV and PA resources supporting the practical, collaborative learning style central to folk traditions.
The partnership is presented publicly as a formal collaboration between the National Folk Festival and the ANU School of Music, positioning the School as a visible contributor to national folk‑music education. Participants move through morning and afternoon classes, whole‑school sessions and optional evening activities within the School’s facilities before transitioning directly to the Festival Opening Concert.
With ticketing managed by the Festival, the School’s role is operational and educational: providing the venue, learning environment and logistical backbone that allows the Folk School to function as an extension of the Festival experience. The collaboration reinforces the School of Music’s commitment to community engagement, traditional music learning and national arts partnerships.
Tickets and full program details can be found on the National Folk Festival’s Folk School page. If you are an ANU School of Music student, contact admin.cass@anu.edu.au as a number of student places will be held.