BCMFest

Boston Celtic Music Festival 2026

Featuring the 2026 Headliners:
Altan
Old Blind Dogs

Volunteer sign-up form and info HERE

Festival Dates: January 15–18, 2026

  • First Round – Jan 15 at Club Passim – TICKETS
  • Boston Urban Ceilidh – Jan 15 at Crystal Ballroom – TICKETS
  • Roots & Branches – Jan 16 at Club Passim –  TICKETS
  • Old Blind Dogs – Jan 16 at Arts at the Armory – TICKETS
  • Dayfest – Jan 17 at Crystal Ballroom, The Burren, & The Rockwell – TICKETS
  • Nightcap with Altan – Jan 17 at Somerville Theatre – TICKETS *sponsored by The Burren – celebrating 30 years*
  • Festival Pass – Access to the Ceilidh, Old Blind Dogs, Dayfest, & Altan – TICKETS


Passim’s Brian O’Donovan Fund Recipient for 2026 BCMFest: Scottish Fish 

First Round – At Club Passim
Thursday, Jan. 15 @ 7pm, 35 minute set each group – one ticket for all three
– Nathan Gourley & Laura Feddersen with Owen Marshall
– Forsyth
– Diarmuid Ó Meachair with Matt Mulqueen

Boston Urban Ceilidh – At Crystal Ballroom
Thursday, Jan. 15 @ 7:30
– Jerry Holland’s Friends: A Tribute (Cape Breton Square Set) with caller Abbie MacQuarrie and Jacob Brillhart, Katie McNally, and Rachel Reeds (fiddles), Conor Hearn (guitar), Neil Pearlman (piano)
– Scottish Ceilidh with caller Summer McCall and Elizabeth Aderson (fiddle), Eamon Sefton (guitar), Simon Lace (drums), and Nate Silva (pipes)

Roots & Branches – At Club Passim
Friday, Jan. 16 @ 7pm, minute set each group – one ticket for all three
– Eric Boodman & Joel Wennerstrom
– Lissa Schneckenburger with Owen Marshall
– Adam Hendey Band

Old Blind Dogs (Scottish Fish Opens) – At Arts at the Armory
Friday, Jan. 16 @ 8pm
– This event will offer both seated and standing options. Approximately 200 seats will be available (with the possibility of adding more if needed), along with ample space for standing and dancing. Standing areas will not obstruct the view of the stage. All seating is General Admission, so guests are encouraged to arrive near door time to secure their preferred seats.

 

Dayfest – At The Burren, Crystal Ballroom, The Rockwell (Davis Square)
Saturday, Jan. 17 @ 11am-7pm

At The Crystal Ballroom:
11:00 AM – Boston Scottish Fiddle Orchestra
12:00 PM – Adam Hendey Band
1:00 PM – Forsyth
2:00 PM – Scottish Fish
3:00 PM – Jenna Moynihan with Owen Marshall
4:00 PM – Neil Pearlman & the Wallbreakers

At The Burren – Celebrating 30 Years:
11:00 AM – Flynn Cohen & Matt Heaton
11:45 AM – Rose Clancy Trio
12:30 PM – Diarmuid Ó Meachair with Matt Mulqueen
1:15 PM – Accardi, Frankowicz & Straw
2:00 PM – Nathan Gourley & Laura Feddersen with Owen Marshall
2:45 PM – Joey Abarta
3:30 PM – Clare Fraser Trio
4:15 PM – Liz Hanley with David McKindley-Ward
5:00 PM – Elias Cardoso
5:45 PM – The Simon Lace Trio
6:30 PM – McCarthy Kelly Ceili Band

At The Rockwell:
11:15 AM – Isabel Oliart Trio
12:00 PM – Elizabeth and Ben Anderson
12:45 PM – BCMFest: Rising Artists – Seneca, Caroline, & Giulia; Sarah Ann Hajjar; TBA
1:30 PM – Riko Matsuoka
2:15 PM – BCMFest: Duo Duos – Kate & Ciarán; Collins & Vocke; An Octave Below
3:15 PM – Dearest Dear
4:00 PM – Eamon Sefton Featuring Giulia Haible and Patrick Bowling

Sessions in the Burren Front Room (full leaders TBA):
12:00-1:15 PM – Slow Session
1:15-2:30 PM – Open Session – Jimmy Kelly
2:30-3:45 PM – Song Session – Archie & Ailsa
4:00-5:15 PM – Irish Session – Kate Knudsvig & Conor Hearn
5:15-6:45 PM – Scottish Session – Katie McNally

Nightcap – At Somerville Theatre with Altan
*Sponsored by The Burren – Celebrating 30 years*
Saturday, Jan. 17 @ 8pm
Opening Brian O’Donovan Tribute with:
– Diarmuid Ó Meachair (Music Director) & Matt Mulqueen
– Nathan Gourley & Laura Feddersen with Owen Marshall
– Scottish Fish
– Tommy McCarthy & Louise Costello

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

About BCMFest:

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.

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 feature Old Blind Dogs  at the Arts at the Armory in Somerville, MA with multiple local collaborator.

– 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 Ireland’s legendary group, Altan. This year’s Nightcap will be taking place at the beautiful 900 capacity Somerville Threatre in Davis Square starting with “An Honorary Moment for Brian O’Donovan”. This evening is sponsored by The Burren – celebrating it’s 30th anniversary.

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

 

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

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