From January 21 to 25, 2026, Folk Alliance International gathers the global folk community to exchange ideas, discover new sounds and build lasting connections. At the heart of the four day gathering are the official showcases: curated 20-minute performances that place showcase-ready artists in front of industry audiences.
British Underground’s Amplified and Unplugged rooms at the conference reflect an evolving scene that is traditionally rooted yet alive with bold new perspectives shaped by shared history and culture.
Explore British Underground’s 2026 line up at Folk Alliance International below.
British Underground spotlights
a dynamic range of contemporary folk music
emerging from the UK and Ireland at Folk Alliance International 2026
Artwork: Luke Drozd
Crys Matthews
Amy Rigby
John Smith
Aysanabee
Georgia Mooney
Polly Paulusma
Genevieve Racette
Ranagri
Great Lake Swimmers
Grainne Hunt
Roswell Road
Bruce Molsky & Darol Anger
Cera Impala
Goblin Band
Sina Thiel
Annie Dressner
Fiona Bevan
Shot by the Northern Cowboys in 2019, press play to experience the warm, energetic, curious, creative and collaborative energy and one big folk, roots and traditional music jam at Folk Alliance International - the perfect ground to present your sound to music industry professionals.
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What is Folk Alliance International?
The Folk Alliance International Conference is the world’s largest gathering of the folk music industry and community, crossing a diverse array of genres including Appalachian, Americana, Blues, Bluegrass, Celtic, Cajun, Global Roots, Hip-Hop, Old-Time, Singer-Songwriter, Spoken Word, Traditional, Zydeco, and various fusions.
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What do BU do?
BU produce live music showcases featuring UK artists.
The performances usually take place across two stages - the British Underground Main Stage, where musicians experience their sound as they would on a fully-produced stage, and the British Underground Unplugged Stage, which leans towards the “pick up your instrument” tradition of folk music creating a stripped back, intimate feel.
We also host an orientation session prior to the event and networking sessions including Country Connections where UK artists and delegates meet key industry professionals from the USA and Canada.
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Who has participated from the UK?
UK artists are a big part of Folk Alliance International and are involved in live showcasing, jams and industry networking.
Previous acts that have showcased include John Smith, St. Catherine’s Child, The Trials of Cato, Blair Dunlop, Lade Nade, Michele Stodart, Mia Kelly, Luke Concannon and more.
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When does it happen?
Folk Alliance International is an annual gathering and in 2026, takes place from the 21st to the 25th of January in New Orleans, LA.
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How do I apply?
Submit your live music showcase application here.
“We have been working in folk since producing the Looking for a New England showcases at SXSW in 2010 with Sam Lee, The Unthanks, Trembling Bells and Olivia Chaney.
After these shows it felt like a natural step to host a regular stage to celebrate the extraordinary music in the scene and Folk Alliance International in Kansas City was an obvious home for this, followed by Montréal and in 2026, New Orleans. After lockdown we made The Broadside Hack documentary about a new generation of artists like Shovel Dance Collective, Caroline and Thyrsis and how they are and re-imaging folk music for the future.”
– Crispin Parry