BCMFest

Boston Celtic Music Festival 2026

BCMFest 2026 Artist Applications Open July 30 at 12PM EST

Applications will be available right here on this page.

Application Window: July 30 – September 30, 2025
Please note: Late applications will not be accepted.

Festival Dates: January 15–18, 2026

Now in its 23rd year, the Boston Celtic Music Festival (BCMFest) returns to venues across Cambridge and Somerville, including Club Passim, Crystal Ballroom, The Burren, The Rockwell, Arts at the Armory, and Somerville Theatre. Presented by Passim — a Cambridge-based nonprofit supporting a vibrant music community through Club Passim, the Passim School of Music, artist grants, and outreach — BCMFest celebrates the rich traditions of Celtic music, song, and dance from Greater Boston’s Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton, and other Celtic communities.

BCMFest showcases everything from traditional tunes to contemporary Celtic sounds, featuring both professional touring acts and beloved local session musicians — highlighting artists across generations.

Application Guidelines:

  • BCMFest focuses on artists with ties to the Greater Boston and New England Celtic community. Your group must have a local connection. (See the application for details when published)

  • You must apply with the exact lineup you intend to perform with. Any changes to your band members after acceptance may result in removal from the lineup. Please submit a single group bio rather than individual bios.

  • We plan to select slightly fewer acts this year, with the goal of scheduling some artists for multiple sets — which can mean higher pay. Please take care to submit high-quality materials and follow all instructions closely.

  • We strongly encourage you to apply early rather than waiting until the last minute.

If you have any questions about the application process, please reach out to Summer McCall at bcmfest@passim.org.

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Past Festival:
January 16-19, 2025

Featuring DERVISH

At Somerville Theatre – TICKETS

Brian O’Donovan Legacy Artist: Rakish

Locations:
Club Passim, Somerville Theatre, Crystal Ballroom, The Burren, and The Rockwell

We have SOLD OUT Festival Passes, First Round, Roots & Branches, and Boston Urban Ceilidh for this year’s festival. Tickets for Saturday Dayfest & Dervish are still available.
Dayfest TICKETS
Dervish TICKETS

More info and schedule below

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 WORKSHOPS 
Sunday, January 19 at Passim School of Music (upstairs from Club Passim)
$40 each, must register to attend
Beginning DADGAD Guitar with Adam Hendey – 11am
Intro to Traditional Irish Fiddling with Kate Knudsvig – 12:30pm

First Round – SOLD OUT (livestream available)
Thursday, January 16; 7pm at Club Passim – three groups, one concert, one ticket
Livestream available $5/free to members – Register HERE
Ed Pearlman, Jacqueline Schwab & Laura Scott
The Adam Hendey Band
Hanneke Cassel

Roots & Branches – SOLD OUT (livestream available)
Friday, January 17; 7pm at Club Passim – three groups, one concert, one ticket
Livestream available $5/free to members  (Passim shows only) – Register HERE
Elias Cardoso Band
Magpie: 4-part vocal harmony group with Kate Knudsvig, Kat Wallace, Helen Kuhar, & Erin Hogan
Rakish

Boston Urban Ceilidh/Contra Dance – SOLD OUT
Friday, January 17; 7:30pm at Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theatre
7:30 – Contra Dance with caller Will Mentor and Calico
O’Riley Irish Dance – 20 minute dance performance
9:00 – Scottish Ceilidh with caller Summer McCall and Caroline Dressler, Adam Hendey, Campbell Webster, & Simon Lace


Dayfest – some new timings as of Jan 8 SOLD OUT
Saturday, January 18; 11am – 5pm at Crystal Ballroom, The Burren, The Rockwell
TICKETS
Crystal Ballroom:
12pm – Copley Street with Owen Marshall
1pm – Casey & Molly
2pm – Marty Frye, Sarah Collins, David McKindley-Ward
3pm – Matt & Shannon Heaton
4pm – Scottish Fish

The Burren Backroom:
11am – Isabel Oliart and Friends
11:45am – Rose Clancy Trio
12:30pm – Sarah Ann Hajjar and Allan Chiasson
1:15pm – Clare Fraser Trio
2pm – The Simon Lace Trio
2:45pm – Fox River
3:20 – Torrin Ryan & Amy Law

The Rockwell:
12:00pm – Jen O’Shea
12:45pm – Mrs. Wilberforce
1:30pm – Riko Matsuoka
2:10pm – * Tea time * Sponsored by Mem Tea with storyteller Joe Keane
2:45 – Coyne Family Band
3:25pm – Helen & Rose
4:00pm – Clara Rose & Raphaella Hero feat. Adam Hendey
4:45pm – Ken Perlman with Janine Randall

The Burren Front Room Sessions: 1 hour and 15 minutes, with a 15 minute change over
12pm – Slow Session: Clare Fraser & Helen Kuhar
1:15-2:15 – open session space
2:30 – Song Session: Archie Stapleton & Ailsa McFayden
4:00 – Irish Session: Bríd, Katie, and Pádraig O’Donnell
5:30 – Scottish Session: Maggie MacPhail and Adam Hendey

Nightcap with DERVISH SOLD OUT
Saturday, January 18; 8pm at Somerville Theatre
TICKETS
As part of the Nightcap Finale, BCMFest will open the night with a 30 minute Tribute to the late  Brian O’Donovan with Lindsay O’Donovan, Rakish, Hanneke Cassel, and special guests to remember the countless contributions Brian made to the Boston Celtic music community and beyond. His passing last fall has been felt keenly by the Celtic music community. Taking part in the moment will be Brian’s wife Lindsay O’Donovan, Hanneke Cassel, members of Dervish, and the 2025 BCMFest Brian O’Donovan Legacy Artist grant recipient, Rakish. The night will continue with a joyous concert from Dervish with occasional local collaborations. Additionally there will be guest appearances from step dancers Rebecca McGowan, Kristen Kelly, Eileen Armstrong, and Kate Spanos.

Live Music Brunch 10am-3pm
Sunday, January 19 at The Burren
Ticketed
The Burren Backroom Series will present The Seán Heely Band beginning at 11:30am as part of the BCMFest weekend for their brunch and an afternoon show. Ticket link for the 11:30am and 3pm afternoon show HERE.

  • Note: No service fees will be added to the ticket price when purchasing tickets at the Somerville Theatre Box Office for the Ceilidh, Dayfest, Nightcap, or Festival Pass. View box office hours and location HERE.

Ticket Links

The 23rd annual Boston Celtic Music Festival, known as BCMFest, returns to Club Passim, Somerville Theatre, Crystal Ballroom, Arts at the Armory, The Burren and The Rockwell January 15-18, 2026. Presented by Passim, a Cambridge-based non-profit that supports a vibrant music community through Club Passim, the Passim School of Music, artist grants and outreach initiatives.

The 2026 festival will showcase Greater Boston’s deep tradition of music, song and dance from Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton, Quebecois and other Celtic communities. BCMFest features acts that are traditional as well as others that draw on contemporary sounds and ideas; full-time, professional touring acts as well as local session musicians; highlighting performers from across the generations.

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– Thursday’s First Round concert provides a night of the more traditional sounds of Celtic music in Boston taking place at Club Passim with three individual groups in one concert setting. Artists and ticket link listed below.

– Thursday’s (*NEW day) Boston Urban Ceilidh (kālē) features participatory and social dances from the New England, Ireland, and Scottish traditions with a Contra Dance and Scottish Ceilidh, all with live music. No experience is necessary – all dances will be taught and led by an in-time caller. This evening event will be taking place at The Crystal Ballroom in Davis Square.

– Friday’s Roots and Branches concert presents a taste of the dynamic sounds and different styles to be heard in Boston’s Celtic music community at Club Passim. With rooted elements in Celtic, this evening’s music will branch out into different territories that share commonalities such as Quebecois, Scandinavian, New England, and more.

– Friday will now have an additional headliner performance at the Arts at the Armory in Somerville, MA with multiple local collaborator. Check back here for more details and announcements on July 30.

– Saturday’s Dayfest offers over six hours of entertainment, from mid-morning until 5 pm. Artists will be presenting all manner of Celtic music, from classic traditional to contemporary sounds. All events will take place in Davis Sq. in Somerville at The Crystal Ballroom, The Burren, and The Rockwell.

– Saturday’s Nightcap will be a culminating celebration of Celtic music with a featured headlining act. This year’s Nightcap will be taking place at the beautiful 900 capacity Somerville Threatre in Davis Square starting with a tribute to Brian O’Donovan.

– Sunday’s Live Music Brunch at The Burren will feature a Celtic group as part of the BCMFest weekend.

 

For specific questions, please contact Festival Director Summer McCall at bcmfest@passim.org.

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