An international line-up will feature at the 2026 Haal festival in Portsoy which has been announced by organisers Folk at the Salmon Bothy.
Celebrating its 16th year over the weekend of June 5-7, the festival will feature top performers from across Scotland, England, Ireland and as far afield as Australia.
Margaret Bennett and students from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland will headline the Friday evening concert.
Also performing will be Natalie Chalmers, a finalist in the Scots Singer of the Year category at the recent Trad Awards, alongside Malcolm Reavell and award-winning Irish singer Thomas McCarthy.
The Siobhan Miller Band will headline the Saturday concert. Siobhan is a multi-award winning singer, who has also just recently been named as Musician of the Year at the BBC Alba Scots Trad Music Awards 2025.
Attending the event from Australia, Eileen Ordish will perform an extensive repertoire of covers including Baez, Dylan, Cohen and many others.
Popular shanty band Kimber’s Men will be raising the rafters with rousing shanties that are sure to get toes tapping and encourage audience participation.
On Sunday afternoon A Wheen o’ Wimmin, five celebrated Scots singers and stalwarts of the folk scene, will be performing, before the grand finale concert brings the festival to a close in the evening.
The concerts will be complemented across the weekend by a full schedule of interactive singarounds, story sessions and musical workshops, including flute, ukelele and piping.
Event organiser Bob Philips said: “We’re delighted to unveil the programme for the 2026 Haal, which truly reflects the spirit of the festival, bringing together outstanding artists, traditional song and a warm welcome in the heart of Portsoy.
“From internationally renowned performers to much-loved voices of the Scottish folk scene, this year’s line-up offers something special for everyone, alongside the singarounds and workshops that make the Haal such a unique and inspiring weekend.”
Full details are available on the Folk at the Salmon Bothy website at https://bothyfolk.org/16th_haal/ or on the Folk at the Salmon Bothy Facebook page.
Tickets for the Haal are available now by contacting Bob Philips at bobportsoy@gmail.com or 07968872217.
