FORUMS & INTERVIEWS
Our Forums and Interviews extend the Festival’s collaborations beyond performance, inviting audiences to explore the ideas, histories and creative lives that shape folk culture today.
The Forum series brings artists, cultural leaders and community voices together to discuss topics including reconnecting music with dance traditions, the role of protest in folk music, connections between music and landscape, and the evolving meaning of “Australian” folk music. Connect with First Nations folks through a Yarning Circle hosted by Richie Allan, while other sessions explore Palestinian cultural traditions and consider the role of broadcasting in sustaining folk communities.
Our Artist Interview series offers a personal window into the lives of Festival performers. Mandy Connell, songwriter and host of An Otherwise Quiet Room, speaks with Ruth Hazleton, Karen Lee Andrews, Judy Small and Charley Castle, while songwriter Fred Smith brings his curiosity and wit to conversations with Maatakitj and Steve Poltz. Folklorist Warren Fahey interviews Lifetime Achievement Award recipients Rob and Olya Willis, while Coral Reid hosts Craft Chats celebrating makers from across the folk community.
Read on below for some highlights of the 2026 Festival!
2026 FORUM & INTERVIEW AND HIGHLIGHTS
Forum: What Is 'Australian' Folk Music?
Staged discussion between artists exploring how Australian “bush” and “trad” music from colonial traditions sits within broader Australian “folk” music contexts. Artists discuss and reflect on how their identity and background inform their practice, and what we might mean when we say “Australian folk music” today.
Forum: Connecting to Landscape through Folk
A discussion between artists exploring the purpose of music in our world through the lens of different cultural traditions, and how these connect to the Australian landscape, led by Chilean-born Noni Espinosa.
Forum: Yarning Circle
Richie Allan hosts a Yarning Circle, a space for sharing First Nations stories, culture, and connection. Grounded in respect and deep listening, it offers a way to learn, reflect, and build community together.
Forum: Where Did All The Protest Go?
Has folk music lost its protest roots? This forum invites artists and activists to reflect on the historically foundational role of protest in folk music, how this has changed over time and place, what issues demand our attention now, and how we can nurture and support critical, courageous voices back into the heart of our community.
Artist Interviews with Mandy
Join Mandy Connell, songwriter and host of 'An Otherwise Quiet Room', for an interview series that celebrates stories and connections across the folk community. Listen and learn with Ruth Hazleton on Friday, Karen Lee Andrews on Saturday, Judy Small on Sunday, and Charley Castle on Monday.
Artist Interviews with Fred
Join Fred Smith, songwriter and folk treasure, as he chats to Maatakitj on Friday and Steve Poltz on Monday. Known for his wit and insightful observations, these conversations are sure to spark new understanding.
Lifetime Achievement Award Interview: Rob & Olya
Winners of the 2026 National Folk Festival Lifetime Achievement Award, Rob and Olya Willis are interviewed by folklorist Warren Fahey. Together they reflect on decades of collecting, recording and preserving Australian folk songs, tunes and stories, and the building of one of the country’s most significant folklore archives.
Artist interview with Coral: Craft Chats
Join Coral Reid who will host a panel of crafters who knit, sew, stitch and create, as they share stories of working in the craft and folk scenes. Hear about their creative lives, ask questions, and join a warm, informal session of threads and tales.