Boston Celtic Music Festival

Passim has announced the lineup for the 23rd annual Boston Celtic Music Festival (BCMFest) taking place January 15-18, 2026, at venues across Cambridge and Somerville, including Club Passim, Somerville Theatre, Crystal Ballroom, The Burren, The Rockwell, and Arts at the Armory. The four-day celebration will showcase Greater Boston’s deep connections to the music, song, and dance from Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton, Quebecois, and other Celtic communities. The full lineup and tickets are available now at passim.org/bcmfest. 

Founded in 2003 and produced by Club Passim, BCMFest celebrates the Boston area’s vibrant Celtic community through music, dance, and storytelling.

This year’s festival will feature internationally acclaimed acts Old Blind Dogs, performing Friday at the Arts at the Armory, and Altan, headlining the Nightcap Finale on Saturday at the Somerville Theatre.

Festival highlights include:

Thursday, January 15:

• First Round concert: 7:00 pm at Club Passim featuring Nathan Gourley & Laura Feddersen with Owen Marshall, Diarmuid Ó Meachair with Matt Mulqueen, and Forsyth. 
• Boston Urban Ceilidh: 7:30 pm at The Crystal Ballroom. A participatory evening of Cape Breton and Scottish dances. No experience is necessary as all dances will be taught and led by an in-time caller. Dance styles include a Cape Breton Square Set and a Scottish Ceilidh. 

Friday, January 16:

• Roots and Branches Concert: 7:00 pm at Club Passim, presenting an eclectic mix of Celtic-influenced styles, with performances from the Adam Hendey Band, Eric Boodman & Joel Wennerstrom, and Lissa Schneckenburger with Owen Marshall. 
• Old Blind Dogs: At 8:00 pm, one of Scotland’s greatest traditional bands, Old Blind Dogs, closes out the night at the Arts at the Armory in Somerville. Scottish Fish will open for this legendary band. This event will have both seated options and room for dancing.

Saturday, January 17:

• BCMFest Dayfest: 11:00 a.m.– 5:30 p.m. Across multiple venues in Davis Square, including The Crystal Ballroom, The Burren, and The Rockwell, Dayfest offers over seven hours of musical performances and sessions. Performers include Diarmuid Ó Meachair, Jenna Moynihan with Owen Marshall, Neil Pearlman & the Wallbreakers, Joey Abarta, Nathan Gourley & Laura Feddersen with Owen Marshall, Forsyth, Liz Hanley with David McKindley-Ward, Rose Clancy Trio, Elias Cardoso, Flynn Cohen & Matt Heaton, The Simon Lace Trio, Clare Fraser Trio, Accardi, Frankowicz & Straw, McCarthy Kelly Ceili Band, Boston Scottish Fiddle Orchestra, Elizabeth and Ben Anderson, Isabel Oliart Trio, Riko Matsuoka, Dearest Dear, Eamon Sefton Featuring Giulia Haible and Patrick Bowling, Duo Duos, and Rising Artists. 
• BCMFest Nightcap with Altan – 8:00 p.m. at Somerville Theatre. Capping BCMFest 2026 will be a performance from iconic Irish band Altan. Before their performance, BCMFest will hold  "An Honorary Tribute for Brian O'Donovan" recognizing his immeasurable contributions to the Boston Celtic community. Many musicians and friends will join the celebration on stage. All bands from the tribute set will collaborate with Altan throughout the program.

Sunday, January 18:

• BCMFest Brunch: 10am -3pm at The Burren. Featuring live Celtic music and great food to close out the weekend.

BCMFest Workshops: The Passim School of Music will host three BCMFest workshops, which will be announced and available for sign-ups in November.

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