What is the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention?

The North Atlantic Fiddle Convention, known as NAFCo, is a unique event that combines a folk festival with an academic conference, bringing together fiddle players, dancers, scholars, and enthusiasts from across the North Atlantic region. It features concerts, workshops, pub sessions, busking trails, public lectures, and academic presentations, creating a space where professional performers and complete beginners are equally welcome.

When and where is NAFCo 2026?

NAFCo 2026 takes place from 24 to 28 June 2026, based at the University of Aberdeen's King's College campus in Old Aberdeen, with events and sessions also taking place at venues across the city centre.

Do I need to be a musician to attend?

Not at all. NAFCo warmly welcomes players, dancers, listeners, and anyone with a curiosity about fiddle music and the cultures of the North Atlantic. The programme is designed to be accessible and enjoyable for all, whether you are picking up a fiddle for the first time or have been playing for decades.

What level do I need to be to join the workshops?

Workshops at NAFCo cater for a wide range of abilities and are open to all instruments unless otherwise specified. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, there will be sessions suited to your level. Check the full programme on the NAFCo website for details of individual workshops.

Why is Aberdeen hosting NAFCo in 2026?

Aberdeen is the founding home of NAFCo, which was first held here in 2001 by the University of Aberdeen's Elphinstone Institute. The 2026 edition marks the convention's 25th anniversary and returns to King's College to celebrate a quarter century of music, dance, and cultural exchange across the North Atlantic.

How do I get to Aberdeen for NAFCo?

Aberdeen is well connected by rail, road, and air. Aberdeen International Airport operates direct flights from a range of UK and European destinations, and Aberdeen station has regular services from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, and London. The King's College campus in Old Aberdeen is easily reached from the city centre on foot or by bus. See our getting here guide for full travel information.

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North Atlantic Fiddle Convention Aberdeen 2026

North Atlantic Fiddle Convention Aberdeen 2026

24 to 28 June 2026 | University of Aberdeen and venues across the city

One of the world's most distinctive celebrations of traditional music and dance is coming to Aberdeen this summer. The North Atlantic Fiddle Convention, known to its devoted community as NAFCo, returns to its founding home in Aberdeen for its 25th anniversary edition, bringing together fiddle players, dancers, scholars, and enthusiasts from across Scotland, Ireland, Scandinavia, Canada, and beyond for five days of concerts, workshops, sessions, and cultural exchange.

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What is NAFCo?

NAFCo is unlike any other music festival. Uniquely combining a folk festival with an academic conference, it creates a genuinely rare space where professional performers share a stage with enthusiastic beginners, and where pub sessions run alongside public lectures and research presentations. The 2026 theme is Traditions and Transformations, reflecting on 25 years of fiddle culture across the North Atlantic, where it has been, and where it is going.

Whether you play, dance, listen, or simply want to immerse yourself in a joyful gathering of communities and cultures, there is a place for you at NAFCo.

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What's on

The five-day programme includes evening concerts featuring artists from across the North Atlantic region, interactive music and dance workshops open to all abilities, pub sessions and busking trails across Aberdeen's city centre, an exhibition, public lectures, and a full academic conference strand. A festival club runs throughout the event, and the programme is designed to be as welcoming to first-time visitors as it is to seasoned participants.

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A 25-year celebration

NAFCo was founded in Aberdeen in 2001 by the University of Aberdeen's Elphinstone Institute, and has since travelled to Newfoundland, Derry, and Cape Breton Island before returning home. The 2026 edition marks a quarter century of bringing together the fiddle traditions of Scotland, Ireland, Scandinavia, and the North American diaspora, and promises to be the most celebratory edition yet.

Plan your visit

Aberdeen has a wide range of accommodation to suit all budgets, from city centre hotels to guesthouses and self-catering options. The city is well served by public transport, and the festival's Old Aberdeen base is within easy reach of all the main visitor areas. See our accommodation guide and getting around page to help plan your stay.

Frequently asked questions

What is the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention?: The North Atlantic Fiddle Convention, known as NAFCo, is a unique event that combines a folk festival with an academic conference, bringing together fiddle players, dancers, scholars, and enthusiasts from across the North Atlantic region. It features concerts, workshops, pub sessions, busking trails, public lectures, and academic presentations, creating a space where professional performers and complete beginners are equally welcome.
When and where is NAFCo 2026?: NAFCo 2026 takes place from 24 to 28 June 2026, based at the University of Aberdeen's King's College campus in Old Aberdeen, with events and sessions also taking place at venues across the city centre.
Do I need to be a musician to attend?: Not at all. NAFCo warmly welcomes players, dancers, listeners, and anyone with a curiosity about fiddle music and the cultures of the North Atlantic. The programme is designed to be accessible and enjoyable for all, whether you are picking up a fiddle for the first time or have been playing for decades.
What level do I need to be to join the workshops?: Workshops at NAFCo cater for a wide range of abilities and are open to all instruments unless otherwise specified. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, there will be sessions suited to your level. Check the full programme on the NAFCo website for details of individual workshops.
Why is Aberdeen hosting NAFCo in 2026?: Aberdeen is the founding home of NAFCo, which was first held here in 2001 by the University of Aberdeen's Elphinstone Institute. The 2026 edition marks the convention's 25th anniversary and returns to King's College to celebrate a quarter century of music, dance, and cultural exchange across the North Atlantic.
How do I get to Aberdeen for NAFCo?: Aberdeen is well connected by rail, road, and air. Aberdeen International Airport operates direct flights from a range of UK and European destinations, and Aberdeen station has regular services from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, and London. The King's College campus in Old Aberdeen is easily reached from the city centre on foot or by bus. See our getting here guide for full travel information.