Winnipeg Folk Fest breaks attendance record

A crowd gathers to watch a performance at the Winnipeg Folk Fest on July 11, 2025. (Jamie Dowsett/CTV News)

The 50th edition of the Winnipeg Folk Festival had a banner year for attendance.

Despite the smoky weather conditions, the festival broke records with 79,000 attendees, including audience members, volunteers, artists and donors.

The lineup included festival favourites, such as Jason Isbell and Fred Penner, as well as artists new to the festival, including Peach Pit and Mavis Staples.

The festival, which wrapped up on Sunday, also saw Mayor Scott Gillingham present Bruce Cockburn with a key to the city, and a section of Highway 59 renamed as “Winnipeg Folk Festival Volunteer Way.”

The 51st edition of the Winnipeg Folk Fest is scheduled for July 9 to 12, 2026.