We are delighted to announce that tickets are finally available from the University of York Students Union website https://yorksu.org/events/products/8939.

Separately we have opened pre-ordering of t-shirts - pre-order yours before 8th February using this short Google form.

Statement from IVFDF 2026 organising chair:

Hi everyone, sorry for any lack of communication – this has been harder than last time and we haven’t been able to confirm things until very recently.

• Yes the festival is very much still happening!

• we know not much information has been put out and that we’re in close proximity to the festival

• we are aware tickets aren’t out yet - hopefully within a week they’ll be live (we’re currently filling in forms and liaising with the university)

• we’re aiming to get artists line ups-announced now they’re finally being confirmed.

For more detailed reasons as to why things have taken so long, feel free to read the fuller details below.

We’re excited to welcome you and that we’re still able to host as the back-up location for IVFDF this year, thank you for your continued goodwill and understanding. Keep a lookout for announcements which should be made in the coming days and weeks!

Sorry for any inconveniences and see you soon for folky fun!

Fuller details

• Semesterisation at the university has meant no ‘semester 2’ room bookings could have been made until close to semester 2 (which starts in February), thus many things could not be sorted until very recently, including which exact rooms we could use, the artists’ line-up and tickets being made available.

• Flat floor space at the university is extraordinarily competitive – there are more than 200 different societies at our university, and various sports and dance championships approaching. We’re very lucky to have managed to procure the same three main dance venues as in 2024, but it has taken much time.

• Insurance policies everywhere are tightening, making it very difficult to find sleeping venues – many places which would have been open to things such as indoor camping in 2024 have no longer permitted this in 2026.

• The majority of us on the organising committee are students, who are giving time out of what is currently our assessment and exam period to string together a festival we hope you guys enjoy. Everyone has already put in an immense amount of hard work and communication to make this possible this year.

As IVFDF attendees ourselves we understand firsthand that it’s logistically a hassle for folks attending and/or partaking in the festival, especially when you haven’t heard much from people involved. Please know we are on it, we’re communicating with people every day, and we’re on track for things to run as normal – however it has been far harder than ever for a variety of reasons, and we haven’t wanted to provide any misinformation or false confirmations about things.

IVFDF relies of a team of stewards to help with the smooth running of the festival.

The responsibilities of the stewards differ depending on which events you are stewarding, but could involve: checking tickets, selling tickets and merchandise, or being the first point of contact for other attendees.

In return for your help, you will be given a full or partial refund on purchased tickets depending on the number of hours you steward (greater than 6 hours for a full refund, less than 6 hours for a partial refund), and a T-shirt that you will be wearing while being a steward.

Let us know if you would like to be a steward using this short Google form.

For questions message us on Facebook, Instagram or email us (email address on the form).

We are looking for a wide range of workshops to spread the joy of all folk traditions to all attendees! Please sign up using this short Google form if you have a workshop you would like to offer, whether it be dance, song, tunes, storytelling or anything else - no matter how wacky! We look forward to you being a part of this wonderful festival!

Feel free to send us a message if you have any questions.

The Morris tour for IVFDF 2026 will be proudly hosted by Ramshackle Morris, and will take place on Saturday 28th February in various locations around York from approximately 10:30am-4pm (subject to change).

Please fill in this form - if you would like your team to dance this event, one form per team.

We look forward to welcoming you to our beautiful city!