Held annually in Portarlington, Victoria, Australia on the June long weekend.

From near and far we gather in the wonderful township of Portarlington to Unleash the Spirit, Discover the Passion and Experience the Culture.

An easy 90-minute drive from Melbourne, the township of Portarlington is ready to welcome you with open arms.

Nestled between the Bellarine Peninsula’s renowned vineyards and the famous mussel farms of Corio Bay, this normally quiet bay side village comes to life with the music, laughter and passion of the Celtic spirit

This winter festival is regarded as Australia’s premier Celtic Folk Festival and attracts over 18,000 people to the region over the three day long weekend event each June.

The event commences on Friday evening and concludes on Monday afternoon (over 4 days).

The Festival uses a range of venues within the town, including community halls and spaces, the hotel, restaurants, cafes and churches. Marquees are also set up on the foreshore to provide additional venues; these include the Village Stage, Celtic Club, Wine Bar, and Celtic Markets.

The National Celtic Festival program offers a broad and diverse range of arts experiences that capture the Celtic culture in its many interpretations within the Australian setting.

The setting of the Portarlington foreshore and surrounding township is an ideal location for the festival and showcases the region.

As festival organizers we recognise the significance of the land on which the festival is held to the indigenous people of the area and in collaboration with local elders have developed means to acknowledge this in a meaningful way.

The festival caters for all age groups and for a diversity of cultural and family groups. The festival has become an annual event for families and friends to gather, offering time to relax and experience the depth of Celtic culture through the festival’s cultural diverse arts program.