The call for applications for Folkest Showcase is now open: this section of the Folkest festival program is part of the Upbeat project, the European platform for World Music Showcases, and is dedicated to live performances by young international artists in the world music scene. The selected artists will perform between July 3 and 5, 2026, in San Daniele del Friuli, as part of the Festival’s core initiatives. Twelve international artists will be selected for the showcases of Folkest, one of the most important folk festivals in Southern Europe. Registrations, officially opened on November 28, 2025, and are open until January 20, 2026.
You can find the rules and application form HERE.
Who is it addressed to?
Folkest Showcase is open to groups from all European Union countries, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Georgia, Tunisia, and Ukraine. Each artist or group must propose a World Music project, be able to perform a 40-minute showcase concert, and be ready to undertake an intensive program, including meetings, seminars, networking sessions, and during their stay in San Daniele del Friuli. To participate, musicians must be under 35, have released no more than three albums (the first album must have been released no more than five years prior to registration), must be be truly emerging and therefore have no more than 20,000 followers on social media, and therefore must not have participated in an international tour longer than ten dates, and must not have a contract an international label. At the same time, they must have held at least one concert in a professional context and have a web presence, although not massive, certainly professional (website and social media).
The selected artists will be announced by March 21, 2026, on the Folkest website and social media channels.
This is a unique and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be seen and heard by international agents, festival programmers, music curators, and our festival audience, but also to receive feedback from industry professionals, expand their professional relationships, and the opportunity to be hired for future performances and participate in training programs.
It is important to remember how Folkest Showcases are a valuable opportunity for artists to access all the festival’s concerts, network events, study meetings, and professional training programs. They also offer a chance to meet music industry professionals agents, festivals, music programmers and curators, journalists, and experts and thus enhance their knowledge of the professional music scene and the relationships needed to make music a real career. This is precisely the focus of the seminars and professional training programs reserved for musicians.
Folkest Showcase is a member of UPBEAT – European Platform for World Music Showcases. Our showcase program is supported by Upbeat, the European Union, the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, the Friuli Foundation, and the Municipality of San Daniele del Friuli.
For information: showcase@folkest.com – TEL. +39 0432 1723158