Kaustinen Folk Music Festival – Pelimanni performers call (60th festival, 2027)

Open call to perform at the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival's 60th edition, 12–18 July 2027, for anyone playing folk music or dance connected to it: solo musicians, bands and groups of roughly 2 to 40 or 50 members (contact the festival if larger), choirs and singing groups, and folk dance groups as long as they are accompanied by live rather than recorded music.

Applying costs a registration fee that scales with group size, from €20 for one to four people up to €120 for groups over 25 — refunded if you are not selected — though international groups, regional theme acts and Master Folk Musicians are exempt. Accepted performers do not receive a fee from the festival; instead they get a wristband covering every festival day, free workshops and seminars, low-cost shared accommodation (booking opens separately in spring, and acceptance does not guarantee a bed), discounted meals and free instrument storage.

To apply, submit an audio or video sample no more than three years old showing the group's repertoire and instruments — one sample only, uploaded to YouTube and linked in the form rather than emailed — plus the total number of performers, any shared members with other applying groups, and your available dates. The window runs 14 December 2026 to 15 January 2027 at 16:00 Finnish time, and late entries are not considered. No general artistic criteria are published; regional and local theme slots have their own residency-based requirements, and the festival mainly works to avoid scheduling conflicts for musicians who play in more than one group.