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Folk Alliance
INTERNATIONAL & REGIONAL CONFERENCES
-- Chicago Mike Beck
Access Film Music LLC
Below is a semi-chronological list of events, including all the Folk Alliance International and Regional conferences, as well as a few other events worthy of your attention.
I'll do my best to keep this page up-to-date, but since so much of this information changes quickly, I make no promises as to the accuracy of this information on any given day.
Note: All dates are based upon the best information available at the moment of publication and may be subject to change without notice.
If you're new to the Folk Alliance world, or just seeking to maximize your Folk Alliance experience, check out our "First-Timer Tips & Strategies".
| Event | Dates | Location |
|---|---|---|
| ¡Hola SWRFA en México! by SWRFA | August 14 - 15, 2026 | Ciudad de México / Mexico City, Mexico |
| SWRFA Southwest Regional Folk Alliance Conference | September 23 - 27, 2026 | Austin, Texas USA |
| FAR-West Connects Folk Alliance Region - West | October 15 - 18, 2026 | Portland, Oregon USA |
| FARM Gathering & Presenter Summit Folk Alliance Region Midwest | October 22 - 25, 2026 | Minneapolis, Minnesota USA |
| NERFA Northeast Regional Folk Alliance | November 6 - 9, 2025 | Albany, New York USA |
| "Big" Folk Alliance | January 27 - 31, 2027 | Chicago, Illinois USA |
| Nordic Folk Alliance | 2027 dates unknown | 2027 location unknown |
| New Mexico Roots Music Summit by SWRFA | 2027 dates unknown | 2027 location unknown |
| Arizona Roots Music Summit by SWRFA | 2027 dates unknown | 2027 location unknown |
| Folk+ Virtual Conference by Folk Alliance International | 2027 dates unknown | Cyberspace |
| SERFA Southeast Regional Folk Alliance | 2027 dates unknown | 2027 location unknown |
| Colorado Roots Music Summit by SWRFA | 2027 dates unknown | 2027 location unknown |
| FARMette by FARM | June 12, 2027 | Richmond, Indiana USA |
| FAI ExChange by Folk Alliance International | DEFUNCT | |
| Folk Alliance Australia | 2026 dates unknown | 2026 location unknown |
Regions of Folk Alliance International - Image courtesy of Folk Alliance International
¡Hola SWRFA en México!
by SWRFA
SWFolkAlliance.org/mexicoAugust 14 - 15, 2026
Mexico City, Mexico
Official: Official showcase submission deadline for the 2026 ¡Hola SWRFA! is June 26, 2026.
Private: No private showcases, but ¡Hola SWRFA! will present an Open Mic, in addition to official showcases.
August 14 - 15, 2026
Mexico City, Mexico
¡Hola SWRFA! is the first official SWRFA / Folk Alliance event to take place in the country of Mexico, one of the territories represented by SWRFA. It has been organized in collaboration with Access Film Music LLC, the Official Music Partner of the All Americas Independent Film Festival which will be taking place in Ciudad de México August 14 - 16, 2026.
SWRFA
Southwest Regional Folk Alliance
swfolkalliance.orgSeptember 23 - 27, 2026
Holiday Inn Austin Midtown
Austin, Texas USA
SWRFA includes these regions: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and the country of Mexico.
Official: Official showcase submission deadline for the 2026 SWRFA Conference is July 3, 2026.
Private: Yes. SWRFA calls these "In-Room Showcases".
- 2026: Holiday Inn Austin Midtown
Austin, Texas USA
September 23 - 27, 2026 - 2027: Location and dates unknown, probably Austin, Texas in late September
- 2028: Location and dates unknown, probably Austin, Texas in late September
- To see all of SWRFA's upcoming events, including their regional one-day events, visit SWFolkAlliance.org/upcoming-events
- 2025: Holiday Inn Austin Midtown
Austin, Texas USA
September 24 - 28, 2025 - 2024: Holiday Inn Austin Midtown
Austin, Texas USA
September 25 - 29, 2024 - 2023: Holiday Inn Austin Midtown
Austin, Texas USA
September 27 - October 1, 2023
FAR-West Connects
Folk Alliance Region - West
far-west.orgOctober 15 - 18, 2026
Double Tree by Hilton Portland
Portland, Oregon USA
FAR-West includes these regions: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and the Canadian provinces and territories of Alberta, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, and the Yukon Territory.
Official: Showcase submission deadline for the 2026 FAR-West Conference was May 10, 2026.
Private: Yes, on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. FAR-West calls these "Private Late Night Showcases".
- 2026: Double Tree by Hilton Portland
Portland, Oregon USA
October 15 - 18, 2026 - 2027: Location and dates unknown
- 2028: Location and dates unknown
- 2025: Hilton Vancouver Washington
Vancouver, Washington USA
October 9 - 12, 2025 - 2024: Warner Center Marriott
Woodland Hills, California USA
October 17 - 20, 2024 - 2023: Warner Center Marriott
Woodland Hills, California USA
October 12 - 15, 2023
FARM Gathering
Folk Alliance Region - Midwest
farmfolk.orgOctober 22 - 25, 2026
The Royal Sonesta
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
FARM includes these regions: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin and the Canadian provinces and territories of Manitoba, Nunavut, and Saskatchewan.
Official: Official showcase submissions opened on March 15, 2026 and closed on May 31, 2026.
Private: Yes. Information available on FARMfolk.org/general-conference-info/showcasing/private.
- 2026: The Royal Sonesta
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
October 22 - 25, 2026 - 2027: Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
October 21 - 24, 2027 - 2028: Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
October 19 - 22, 2027
- 2025: DoubleTree by Hilton Lisle Naperville
Lisle, Illinois USA
October 23 - 26, 2025 - 2024: DoubleTree by Hilton Lisle Naperville
Lisle, Illinois USA
October 24 - 27, 2024 - 2023: Hilton Lisle Naperville
Lisle, Illinois USA
October 19 - 22, 2023
NERFA
Northeast Regional Folk Alliance
nerfa.org | nerfaconference.orgNovember 12 - 15, 2026
The Desmond Hotel Crowne Plaza Albany
Albany, New York USA
NERFA includes these regions: Connecticut, Delaware, the Disrict of Columbia (Washington D.C. and its metro area including the Virginia counties of Loudoun, Fairfax, and Prince William), Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Québec.
Official: Showcase submission deadline for the 2026 Conference was May 11, 2026 (NERFA calls these "Formal Showcases").
Private: Yes. NERFA calls these "Private Guerrilla Showcases" ("PGS"). Information about NERFA's Private Showcases, including deadlines and other important dates can be found at NERFAconference.org/2026-private-showcase
- 2026: The Desmond Hotel Crowne Plaza Albany
Albany, New York USA
November 12 - 15, 2026 - 2027: Location and dates unknown
- 2028: Location and dates unknown
- 2025: Desmond Hotel
Albany, New York
November 6 - 9, 2025
31st annual - 2024: Holiday Inn by the Bay
Portland, Maine
November 21 - 24, 2024
30th annual - 2023: Asbury Park, New Jersey
November 9 - 12, 2023
29th annual
"Big" Folk Alliance
Folk Alliance International Conference
folk.org/conferenceJanuary 27 - 31, 2027
Hilton Chicago Hotel
Chicago, Illinois USA
Official: Official showcase applications for the 2027 Folk Alliance International Conference opened May 1 and close on June 8, 2026.
Private: Yes. Extensive private showcase opportunities available.
To be considered for Access Film Music LLC's Private Showcase Rooms, please email
info@accessfilmmusic.com.
Folk Alliance typically posts the complete list of Private Showcase hosts in August
each year, on this page: Folk.org/conference/private-showcases under the heading "Hosted by Conference Attendees"
- 2027: Chicago, Illinois USA
January 27 - 31, 2027 - 2028: Kansas City, Missouri USA
January 26 - 30, 2028 - 2029: Unknown location and dates
- 2030: New Orleans, Louisiana USA
January 23 - 27, 2030 - 2031: Unknown location in Canada
Dates unknown - 2032: New Orleans, Louisiana USA
January 21 - 25, 2032
- 2026: New Orleans, Louisiana USA
January 21 - 25, 2026 - 2025: Montréal, Québec Canada
February 19 - 23, 2025 - 2024: Kansas City Missouri USA
February 21 - 25, 2024
Nordic Folk Alliance
nordicfolkalliance.comUnknown dates and location
Nordic Folk Alliance includes Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
Official: Artist submissions usually open in Autumn, but for NFA 2026, due to scheduling and funding delays, only artists who submitted for NFA 2025 were considered for official showcases for the 2026 conference. Official showcases are restricted to artists from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
Private: No.
Unknown dates and location
- 2026: Malmö, Sweden
9 - 11 April, 2026 - 2025: Uppsala Konsert & Kongress (UKK)
Uppsala, Sweden
April 3 - 5, 2025 - 2024: Roskilde, Denmark
May 21 - May 24, 2024
New Mexico Roots Music Summit
by SWRFA
swfolkalliance.org/upcoming-events/new-mexico-roots-music-summitApril 19, 2026
Santa Fe, New Mexico USA
Official: None, but there will be a Community Open Mic at El Rey Court.
Private: None, but there will be a Community Open Mic at El Rey Court.
April 19, 2026
Santa Fe, New Mexico USA
- 2025: Information requested
- 2024: Information requested
- 2023: Information requested
Arizona Roots Music Summit
by SWRFA
swfolkalliance.org/upcoming-events/arizona-roots-music-summitApril 26, 2026
Prescott, Arizona USA
Official: Information requested.
Private: Information requested.
April 26, 2026
Prescott, Arizona USA
- 2025: Information requested
- 2024: Information requested
- 2023: Information requested
Folk+
by Folk Alliance International
Folk.org/folkplus/2026April 29 - 30, 2026
Cyberspace
Official: Information requested.
Private: No.
April 29 - 30, 2026
Cyberspace
- 2025: June 17 - 18, 2025
- 2024: Information requested
- 2023: Information requested
SERFA
Southeast Regional Folk Alliance
serfa.orgMay 28 - 31, 2026
Owensboro, Kentucky
SERFA includes Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
Official: Artist submissions may open as early as December in the year prior to the conference. SERFA 2026 official showcase submissions opened on December 12th, 2025 and closed February 1st, 2026.
Private: Yes, limited. Check serfa.org for details.
May 28 - 31, 2026 - Owensboro, Kentucky USA
- 2025: Owensboro, Kentucky USA
May 15 - 18, 2025 - 2024: Black Mountain, North Carolina USA
May 9 - 12, 2024 - 2023: Black Mountain, North Carolina USA
May 4 - 7, 2023
Colorado Roots Music Summit
by SWRFA
swfolkalliance.org/upcoming-events/colorado-roots-music-summit2027 date unknown
2027 location unknown
Official: In previous years, there weren't showcases, but there was an Open Mic.
Private: In previous years, there weren't showcases, but there was an Open Mic.
2027 date unknown
2027 location unknown
- 2026: Swallow Hill - Denver, Colorado USA
May 31, 2026 - 2025: Swallow Hill - Denver, Colorado USA
- 2024: Information requested
FARMette
by FARM
HoosierOriginalMusic.com/farmetteJune 12, 2027
Richmond, Indiana USA
June 12, 2027 - Richmond, Indiana USA
2028: Richmond, Indiana
FAI ExChange
Folk Alliance International's "ExChange" events were FAI's first forays outside of North America. They produced 3 ExChange events, but the program is now defunct. However, their 2nd event, held in Gothenburg, Sweden April 18 - 20, 2018 evolved into Nordic Folk Alliance.
- 2019: FAI ExChange, in partnership with the Port Fairy Folk Festival
Geelong, Victoria, Australia
March 2 - 4, 2020 - 2018: FAI ExChange, in partnership with Nordic Music Export (Pre-cursor to Nordic Folk Alliance)
Gothenburg, Sweden
April 18 - 20, 2018 - 2017: FAI ExChange, in partnership with Culture Ireland and the Clonakilty International Guitar Festival
Clonakilty, County Cork, Ireland
September 19 - 21, 2017
Folk Alliance Australia
Folk Alliance Australia (FAA) is an incorporated not-for-profit association, with a volunteer board of management, which serves as a national body representing folk cultural activity and the folk music industry of Australia.
https://www.folkalliance.org.au/October 2026
Location unknown
Despite the name, Folk Alliance Australia is NOT affiliated with the North American-based Folk
Alliance International organization in any way.
Events produced by Folk Alliance Australia
are NOT true "Folk Alliance" events, but we include them on this page in order to dispel confusion.
Our impression over the years is that information on the FAA website is often out-of-date and usually lacks specific
information about upcoming events.
It would appear that their primary event is the Australian Folk Music Awards (AFMAs) that usually seems to take place in
October. FAA also provides small grants to its members and appears to support Australian folk music through other activities and programs.
Even though FAA is not affiliated with the North Amnerican Folk Alliance International organization and does not appear to host
a "Folk Alliance-style" showcase event, the organization could still be a source of valuable information and contacts for folk
and acoustic musicians seeking opportunities and contacts in Australia.
FAA does publish a robust online list of Australian folk music festivals and links to other Australian and international music organizations.
A small selection of true "Showcase Events" in Australia can be found on the Access Abundance Showcase Events Worldwide Wiki.
Official: No information.
Private: No information.
October 2026
Location unknown
- 2025: AFMAs (Awards) - Melbourne, Victoria Australia
October 22, 2025 - 2024: Information requested
- 2023: Information requested

