Cambridge Folk Festival

What Cambridge Folk Festival does

Cambridge Folk Festival is an annual live music event established in 1965 and operated by Cambridge City Council's Cultural Services department. It runs as a two-day festival over a weekend at the 36-acre Cherry Hinton Hall park on the outskirts of Cambridge, hosting up to 4,500 attendees per day across two main stages, a street performance area, and a Club Corner programmed in partnership with local folk clubs. The festival serves folk, Americana, country, blues, and world music enthusiasts — a demographic skewed toward 46-65 year-olds with 70% degree-educated and over 50% in full-time employment — alongside families and accessibility-focused audiences. Supporting infrastructure includes a three-night campsite, accessible viewing platforms, and dedicated family and accessibility facilities.

The festival's product surface has expanded beyond the main weekend for 2026 with 'Cambridge Folk Festival Presents,' a year-round, city-wide multi-venue programme across Cambridge Corn Exchange, Guildhall, Storey's Field Centre, Arts Club Cambridge, and Great St Mary's. Ancillary products include the Christian Raphael Prize talent pipeline (established 2018), a Friends of the Festival membership programme at £20 per year supporting sustainability initiatives, a volunteering programme, and corporate sponsorship packages.

The business model is event-driven and diversified across four primary revenue streams: ticket sales (weekend adult tickets £133, day tickets £68, with tiered concessions and free entry for children under 13), corporate sponsorship (historical sponsors include Cambridge Water, Otter Brewery, Cranes Cider, Turing Locke, and PwC), recurring Friends membership, and trader/caterer fees. Distribution runs primarily through the Cambridge Live Tickets box office (online and phone), supplemented by Gigantic payment-plan tickets, on-site camping/parking sales, and partner-venue box offices for CFF Presents. The festival maintains a 64,000-email mailing list and a combined social following of approximately 60,000 across Facebook, X, and Instagram, used as the primary marketing channel alongside professional PR and media partnerships. There is no proprietary technology platform; operations rely on standard ticketing (Spektrix), logistics partners, and council infrastructure. The 2026 edition has sold out.

Name

Cambridge Folk Festival

Legal name

Cambridge Folk Festival

Website

https://cambridgefolkfestival.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cambridge Folk Festival is a council-operated annual live music festival founded in 1965 in Cambridge, UK. It serves folk and roots music enthusiasts through a sold-out two-day Cherry Hinton Hall event and a new year-round multi-venue city programme, monetised via tickets, sponsorship, and membership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Music Festivals

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Festival Organizers & Promoters (MPAGAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Concerts & Music Festivals (THAJAFAA), Arts & Culture Community Festivals (Multidisciplinary Arts Weeks) (MPAGAEAG)

Keywords

• Live music festival
• Folk music events
• Music festival tickets
• Festival camping
• Festival sponsorship

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from weekend and day tickets, with tiered pricing for adults, young folk (14-25), concessions, and free entry for children under 13. Camping and parking tickets sold separately.
2. Sponsorship: Corporate sponsorship opportunities ranging from stage sponsorship to green initiative sponsorship. Previous sponsors include Cambridge Water, Otter Brewery, Cranes Cider, Turing Locke, and PwC.
3. Friends of the Festival Membership: Annual membership at £20 supporting waste and recycling initiatives. Members are recognized on the festival programme and website.
4. Trader and Caterer Fees: Fees from food and non-food traders, caterers, and concession operators at the festival site.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cambridge Folk Festival organises and operates an annual two-day folk and roots music festival at Cherry Hinton Hall in Cambridge, complemented by an optional three-night on-site camping experience and a year-round city-wide programme ('Cambridge Folk Festival Presents…') of multi-venue concerts at partner venues throughout Cambridge. The event is supplemented by corporate sponsorship packages, a Friends of the Festival membership programme, and talent-development initiatives such as the Christian Raphael Prize.

Product overview

Cambridge Folk Festival is a single annual event offering centered around the two-day Cherry Hinton Hall festival (August 1-2, 2026), with optional three-night camping. The festival extends year-round through CFF Presents city-wide multi-venue events and supports emerging talent via the Christian Raphael Prize. Additional offerings include the Friends membership programme for environmental supporters, volunteer opportunities, and corporate sponsorship packages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cambridge Folk Festival (Cherry Hinton Hall Main Event) The core annual two-day folk, Americana, country, blues and world music festival held at Cherry Hinton Hall, featuring two main stages, a street performance area, Club Corner in partnership with local folk clubs, and family-friendly amenities including a kids' area. The 2026 headliners are Frank Turner, Suzanne Vega and Richard Thompson with Zara Phillips. Targeted at music enthusiasts aged 46–65 from Cambridge and East Anglia, families, and accessible audiences.
• CFF Presents (City-Wide Events) A year-round programme of multi-venue concerts across Cambridge preceding the main festival weekend, including events at Cambridge Corn Exchange and other partner venues. Tickets are sold through individual venue box offices. Targeted at folk music audiences and concert-goers in Cambridge and East Anglia.
• Festival Camping A three-night on-site camping experience at the Cherry Hinton Hall campsite during the festival weekend, with pitches including access to the site's duck pond, gardens and festival infrastructure. Targeted at festival-goers who wish to make a full weekend of the event.
• Friends of Cambridge Folk Festival Membership An annual £20 membership programme that funds the festival's environmental and waste-reduction initiatives, with member recognition on the festival programme and website. Targeted at supporters of the festival's sustainability mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• Waste output of 0.3 kg/person/day compared to industry benchmark of 2 kg
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University Arms HotelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Official Accommodation Partner for 2026. The hotel will host artists, guests, and festivalgoers, offering a stylish and comfortable base in the heart of Cambridge. Represents new chapter of partnership expansion for the festival.
• Cambridge City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizing body of Cambridge Folk Festival. Presents the festival and provides municipal support and infrastructure.
• Folk by the Oak FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for The Spell Songs Scratch Choir event - a Cambridge Folk Festival event in partnership with Folk by the Oak Festival.
• The SherpasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArrival assistance partner providing Electric E-Carts to transport luggage, friendly Sherpas to help carry equipment, and pre-bookable camping equipment rental for hassle-free camping arrival.
• Charged UpminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhone charging partner. Renting power banks available from both bars and camping HQ for device charging during the festival.
• Cambridge WaterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor with pop-up Water Bar. Engaged with festival-goers about water saving initiatives at 2022 festival.
• Otter BreweryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBeverage sponsor of Cambridge Folk Festival.
• Cranes CiderminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBeverage sponsor of Cambridge Folk Festival.
• Turing LockeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHospitality sector sponsor of Cambridge Folk Festival.
• PwCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional services sponsor of Cambridge Folk Festival.
• Local Folk Clubs and PromotersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local folk clubs and promoters to deliver Club Corner performances, showcasing community talent alongside main stage acts.
• Arts Club CambridgeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNew venue partnership for CFF Presents events. Located inside CSVPA in Cambridge's historic centre. Hosted Caraway event.
• A Greener FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental certification organization. Festival won 'Outstanding' award in 2023 for sustainability efforts. Partnership with waste recycling company Thalia (Waterbeach) for recycling separation.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CamFolkFest
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CambridgeFolkFest
• Facebookfacebook.com/cambridgefolkfest
• Instagraminstagram.com/cambridgefolkfest
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cambridge-folk-festival

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cambridge Folk Festival