The fiddles are coming out, the dancing shoes are getting dusted off, and Greater Boston is preparing for four days of extraordinary Celtic music. The 24th annual Boston Celtic Music Festival, better known as BCMFest, returns January 14 to 17, 2027, bringing together musicians, dancers and traditional music enthusiasts for a celebration of the sounds that have shaped generations of Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton and Québécois culture.
Presented by Passim, the festival will take over six venues across Cambridge and Somerville, featuring performances from acclaimed international artists, talented regional musicians and exciting new voices carrying Celtic traditions into the future.
And this year’s lineup is packed with reasons to celebrate.
Scottish folk quartet Gnoss, Irish traditional music trio Open the Door for Three and Canadian sister duo Cassie & Maggie are among the featured performers. The festival also welcomes musicians including Hanneke Cassel, Katie McNally, Neil Pearlman, Adam Hendey and Forsyth, alongside dozens of artists from Boston’s thriving Celtic music community.
The result is a festival that celebrates centuries of musical heritage while making room for fresh arrangements, unexpected collaborations and plenty of dancing.
BCMFest has been bringing musicians and audiences together since 2003, establishing itself as an important annual gathering for traditional music in New England. The event reflects the region’s longstanding connections to Celtic cultures, where fiddle tunes, storytelling, communal dances and informal musical sessions have remained central to community life.
“For 24 years, Passim’s Boston Celtic Music Festival has been a cornerstone of Boston’s vibrant traditional music scene,” says festival director Summer McCall.
The 2027 edition begins Thursday, January 14, with an evening celebrating the musical traditions that inspired the festival.
Club Passim will host the First Round concert, featuring Pine Tree Flyers, fiddler Hanneke Cassel and the trio of Nathan Gourley, Laura Feddersen and David McKindley-Ward. It’s an opening night dedicated to the instrumental mastery and enduring melodies that have made traditional Celtic music such a vibrant part of the region’s cultural identity.
Across town, the Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theatre will host one of the festival’s most entertaining traditions.
The Boston Urban Ceilidh invites audiences to leave their seats and become part of the music. Combining New England contra dancing and Scottish ceilidh traditions, the evening features live music from Good Company + Friends and a lineup including Adam Hendey, Jesse Ofgang, Simon Lace and Elias Cardoso.
And newcomers are absolutely welcome.
Every dance will be taught and guided by a caller, making the evening accessible to anyone eager to try something new. Rebecca McGowan’s School of Irish Dance will also perform between the contra and ceilidh sessions, adding another dimension to the celebration.
Friday brings two concerts showcasing the incredible range of contemporary Celtic music.
At Club Passim, Roots and Branches will explore the connections between different folk traditions, with performances from Forsyth, Cassie & Maggie and San Miguel Fraser. The program moves through Celtic, Cape Breton, Castilian and traditional folk influences, demonstrating how musical cultures can evolve through collaboration and exchange.
Meanwhile, Arts at the Armory welcomes Gnoss for an evening of Scottish folk music.
The award-winning quartet have earned attention for their rich vocal harmonies, sparkling acoustic instrumentation and thoughtful songwriting. Their performance promises an exciting blend of traditional influences and contemporary arrangements, with Adam Hendey Band opening the evening.
Saturday is when BCMFest really spreads its wings.
The festival’s Dayfest takes over the Crystal Ballroom, The Rockwell and Dragon’s Lair in Somerville’s Davis Square, delivering more than six hours of performances beginning at 11 a.m. Audiences can move between venues and discover everything from traditional fiddle music to inventive contemporary folk arrangements.
The extensive lineup includes San Miguel Fraser, Mossy Banks, Casey Murray & Molly Tucker, Boston Scottish Fiddle Orchestra, Rose Clancy Trio, Clare Fraser Trio, The Hayden Stern Band, UnReel and many more.
It’s a remarkable opportunity to experience the depth of the region’s traditional music community in one afternoon.
That evening, the festival moves to Somerville Theatre for its Nightcap concert, a gathering of featured musicians and collaborative performances. Open the Door for Three, Cassie & Maggie, Katie McNally & Neil Pearlman, Forsyth and several other festival favourites will take the stage, with Adam Hendey serving as music director.
The Nightcap has all the ingredients for an unforgettable musical evening, bringing accomplished performers together to share the traditions and creative possibilities that make Celtic music such an enduring art form.
The weekend also includes an important opportunity for one artist to build a wider audience.
Forsyth is the 2026 recipient of the Brian O’Donovan Legacy Artist grant, a program supporting Celtic musicians planning tours throughout New England. The grant initiative awards six grants annually, with one recipient featured at BCMFest. Forsyth will perform several times during the festival, giving audiences multiple opportunities to discover the artist’s music.
The program honours the legacy of Brian O’Donovan, whose dedication to traditional music helped strengthen connections between Celtic performers and audiences throughout the region.
And the festival’s commitment to musical education continues on Sunday.
The Passim School of Music will host three workshops on January 17, offering opportunities for participants to develop their skills and engage directly with the traditions celebrated throughout the weekend. Workshop details and registration information will be announced in the coming weeks.
Behind BCMFest is Passim, the nonprofit organization that has helped nurture Boston’s folk music community for generations.
Based in Harvard Square, Passim operates its celebrated listening room, music school, artist grant programs and community initiatives. Its history stretches back to the legendary Club 47, which opened in 1958, establishing a musical tradition that continues to flourish through concerts, education and support for emerging performers.
“BCMFest is a perfect example of what Passim is all about: bringing a community together around music that matters,” says executive director Michael Busack.
That sense of community remains the festival’s greatest strength.
Across four days, established musicians will share stages with rising performers, audiences will discover new traditions, and dancers will turn familiar melodies into joyful shared experiences. With its combination of international talent, local artistry and opportunities to participate, BCMFest offers something for longtime folk enthusiasts and first-time visitors alike.
The 24th annual Boston Celtic Music Festival takes place January 14 to 17, 2027, across Cambridge and Somerville, Massachusetts, with tickets available now.
Get ready for four days of exceptional music, unforgettable performances and enough fiddle tunes to keep Boston dancing all weekend.
Boston Celtic Music Festival 2027 Schedule:
January 14 Cambridge, MA @ Club Passim, First Round, 7 p.m.
January 14 Somerville, MA @ Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theatre, Boston Urban Ceilidh, 7:30 p.m.
January 15 Cambridge, MA @ Club Passim, Roots and Branches, 7 p.m.
January 15 Somerville, MA @ Arts at the Armory, Gnoss with Adam Hendey Band, 8 p.m.
January 16 Somerville, MA @ Crystal Ballroom, The Rockwell and Dragon’s Lair, Dayfest, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
January 16 Somerville, MA @ Somerville Theatre, Nightcap, 7 p.m.
January 17 Cambridge, MA @ Passim School of Music, BCMFest Workshops, 11 a.m.