Congratulations to North Atlantic Fiddle Convention who has / have been nominated in Event of the Year sponsored by VisitScotland in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2026. Vote for North Atlantic Fiddle Convention now! It’s going to be another great night at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards on Saturday 5th December in Paisley Arena, Lagoon Centre. Why not join us for a brilliant night of music and awards. Buy a ticket here.
We asked Laura of North Atlantic Fiddle Convention the following questions.
Tell us about yourself
Founded in Aberdeen in 2001 by the late Dr Ian Russell of the University of Aberdeen’s Elphinstone Institute, the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention (NAFCo) is an internationally renowned celebration of traditional music, dance and culture from across the North Atlantic and beyond.
Bringing together world class musicians, dancers, academics, enthusiasts, young people and communities, NAFCo offers a vibrant programme of concerts, workshops, performances, talks, outreach, community engagement and cultural exchange. With its unique tradition of alternating between its home in Aberdeen and international host destinations, NAFCo has built a truly global community, creating lasting connections and friendships through a shared love of traditional music and dance.
Uniquely combining a major music festival with an international academic conference, NAFCo bridges the gap between performance, research and participation. It provides a platform for established and emerging artists, encourages collaboration across music and dance traditions and generations, and plays an important role in celebrating, sharing and sustaining the rich musical heritage of the North Atlantic.
Any particular career highlights?
Over the past 25 years, NAFCo has travelled across the North Atlantic, with conventions hosted in Scotland, Ireland, Canada and the USA. Each has brought its own unique character, showcasing the musical heritage of its host region and welcoming internationally acclaimed artists alongside emerging talent. Reaching our 25th anniversary in 2026 was a hugely significant milestone and highlight, and one we were determined to celebrate in style!
Following a year of NAFCo Teaser events, including appearances at the Tall Ships, Celtic Connections, Glassel Gigs, local schools and ceilidhs, we delivered an incredible five-day festival in Aberdeen in June, featuring over 157 events and welcoming thousands of people to the city.
There were so many memorable moments, from outstanding concerts and workshops to the International Youth Celebration, which showcased the amazing talent of the next generation of traditional musicians. One particularly special highlight was the Big NAFCo Gathering, which saw over 400 people come together in Aberdeen's Union Terrace Gardens to play music, dance a waltz and a giant Orcadian Strip the Willow, and enjoy the wonderful atmosphere in the sunshine!
The response to NAFCo 2026 was phenomenal, with over 16,000 engagements across the anniversary celebrations, and an economic impact of almost £1 million. These achievements were made possible by the fantastic support of our artists, volunteers, partners, funders, sponsors and audiences, alongside the wonderful enthusiasm of the wider Aberdeen and North East community.
To see NAFCo's 25th anniversary embraced so wholeheartedly, and to witness the joy, energy and enthusiasm throughout the celebrations, was an incredibly proud moment for everyone involved.
What are your plans for the future?
Well, well, well… we have some very exciting news to share!
As is the unique tradition of NAFCo, following each convention in our home city of Aberdeen, we take the celebrations somewhere across the North Atlantic for the next gathering. And we're absolutely delighted to tell you that NAFCo 2028 is on the way!
SAVE THE DATE: Tuesday 25th – Sunday 30th July 2028!
We can't quite reveal the location just yet, but all will be announced very soon!
In the meantime, make sure you've got those dates firmly in your diary, join the NAFCo and Elphinstone Institute mailing list through our website and keep an eye on our social media channels and newsletters for more very exciting announcements.
We can't wait to bring the whole NAFCo community together again in 2028!
North Atlantic Fiddle Convention Social Media
Website: https://www.northatlanticfiddle.com
Facebook: @NorthAtlanticFiddle
Instagram: @northatlanticfiddleconvention
YouTube: @NorthAtlanticFiddleConvention
TikTok: @nafcofestival
Listen to music: http://
The 2026 MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards are on the 5th December 2026 in Paisley Arena, Lagoon Centre! You will be able to watch it live in person (buy a ticket here).
Hosted by Scottish personalities Alistair Heather and Mary Ann Kennedy, the night will welcome live performances from some of the brightest lights on the thriving trad scene today including Valtos, Gnoss, Sian, Fèis Phàislig, Spodo Komodo and BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Rachel Groves and many more!
If you would like to support Hands Up for Trad in their work with Scottish trad music and musicians why not become a friend of Hands Up for Trad. In addition to our high profile events like the Scots Trad Music Awards, we also deliver a less well known, education programme for young people from 8yrs right through to young adults at the start of their careers. Read more here.