Welcome to Govan Music Festival 2026!
We celebrate the stories of Govan’s shipbuilding heritage and Glasgow’s modern-day multiculturalism
The festival with a social conscience and a big heart returns for its fifth year from Sunday 22 - Saturday 28 March. The diverse, affordable event will see a new mini musical, The Great Govan Sea Voyage, devised and performed by pupils from Riverside Primary School for the first time. Co-created with theatre director John Binnie and composer Karen MacIver, the performance is the culmination of years of work by the Glasgow Barons to help Govan schools rebuild their choirs.
The festival will also present its first ever Bhangra event, headlined by one of the UK's longest running and most influential Bhangra bands, DCS.
In a celebration of Govan and Glasgow’s rich diversity, the night will also welcome support from Rootless, a new Roma-Indian band whose performance explores their shared musical heritage and roots, and Edinburgh Indian dance troupe Cosmic Dance.
A classical concert from the Glasgow Barons Orchestra, The Auld Alliance, will pay tribute to both Scottish and French culture, with a new commission by Scottish composer Richard Greer, alongside music by Ibert, Damase and MacMillan. Soloists will include Portuguese harpist Teresa Romão and Irish flautist Catriona Ryan.
Audiences are invited to sling on their dancing shoes for a World of Ceilidh night at Glasgow’s Grand Ole Opry, which will see award-winning Musicians in Exile group team up with Ceithir Ceilidh Band, comprising University of Glasgow alumni, alongside current students, for an evening of foot-stomping tunes.
Elsewhere across the programme, recovery community event Freed Up Friday returns with local singer-songwriters including Hunter and McMustard and Hawaii Fivo, and the Four Barons String Quartet will perform Schubert’s Death and the Maiden at Govan and Linthouse Parish Church.
Paul MacAlindin, Artistic Director of The Glasgow Barons and Govan Music Festival, said: “This fifth edition of the festival is about building Govan’s and Glasgow’s passion and joy for music and creativity. Huge changes are afoot across Govan and it’s important to focus on building a healthy, creative community that reflects who we actually are in ways that sustain our identities and welcome others to our area.
“Govan is open to the world and as a community we love celebrating our connections with each other. There’s so much joy, beauty and passion to be found at this year’s festival – it’s sure to put a spring back in your step.”
Govan Music Festival is supported by Creative Scotland, William Grant Foundation and many others, with the majority of concerts priced between £1 and £5
The 2026 edition takes place from 22nd - 28th March. Tickets for this year’s festival are on sale below.
Tickets Govan Music Festival 2026
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A WORLD OF CEILIDH
Sunday, 22nd March 6pm - 9.30pm
Glasgow’s Grand Ole Opry, 2-4 Govan Rd
A great night out of world music and ceilidh dancing with Musicians in Exile & Ceithir Ceilidh Band.
Dance the night away with Glasgow's own refugee Musicians in Exile performing music of their homelands alongside Glasgow University musicians and alumni Ceithir Ceilidh Band. Supported by Glasgow Riverside Innovation District.
£5/£1 conc. disabled access. Kinning Park or West St subways
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GOVAN SCHOOL CHOIRS
Wednesday, 25th March 1-2pm
Fairfield Club, 211 Crossloan Rd
School choirs from Lorne St, Ibrox, Govan Gaelic, Riverside, St Saviours, St Constantines, Pirie Park Primaries and musicians from Hazelwood. Our annual gathering of Govan's musical talent, open to all, free entry. A sure fire hit for all fans of our local schools. Supported by Govan, Elder Park and Linthouse housing associations.
Free Entry, disabled access. Govan subway
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THE GREAT GOVAN SEA VOYAGE
Wednesday, 25th March 6pm-7pm
Riverside Primary pupils perform a musical they have created on their learning theme of Govan's ship building heritage. Local singer-songwriters Jennifer Armstrong, Ant Thomaz, Alex Neilsen and Hawaii Fivo also perform new songs about The Clyde. Director John Binnie, composer Karen MacIver. Supported by Creative Scotland & Ernst Maas Educational Trust.
Free entry with ticket, disabled access, Govan subway
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THE AULD ALLIANCE: GLASGOW BARONS ORCHESTRA
Thursday 26th March 7.30pm - 9pm
Govan & Linthouse Parish Church, 796 Govan Rd
Riffs, Roars & Romance from Scotland and France.
Ibert: Concerto da Camera
Richard Greer: Inheritance (premiere)
Damase: Duo Concertant for flute and harp
MacMillan: The Exorcism of Rio Sumpul
flute - Catriona Ryan, harp - Teresa Romao, saxophone - Dean Garrity, conductor - Paul MacAlindin
£5/£1 conc. disabled access, opposite Govan subway
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DEATH AND THE MAIDEN: THE FOUR BARONS QUARTET
Friday, 27th March 7.30pm - 9pm
Govan & Linthouse Parish Church, 796 Govan Rd
Hear our resident String Quartet, The Four Barons play a programme ranging from Schubert’s Death and the Maiden to tunes from the famous Scottish klezmer folk band Moishe’s Bagel, Dennehy’s cheeky STAMP and Mason’s atmospheric Midnight Spires.
£5/£1 conc. disabled access, opposite Govan subway
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FREED UP FRIDAY
Friday, 27th March 6pm - 10.30pm
Clyde Community Hall, 41 Whitefield Rd
Witty lyrics, feel good music and scran from Scotland’s top sober event provider. Willie Campbell, Hawaii Fivo, Hunter & McMustard, plus Freed Up rappers, song writers and DJS. Supported by Glasgow HSCP and Creative Scotland.
Free entry by ticket only. Disabled access. Drug & alcohol free.
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DCS BHANGRA NIGHT
Saturday, 28th March 7.30-10pm
Edmiston House, 100 Edmiston Drive
DCS, one of the greatest Bhangra bands in the world, launched their first album "Teri Shaun" back in 1985 and have been rocking the Asian music scene ever since.
Rootless unite Glasgow's top Indian classical and Roma musicians in a fusion that will get you jumping for joy.
Cosmic Dance have been championing the gorgeous dance forms of Bharatanatyam in Edinburgh. They have grown and popularised Bharatanatyam in its traditional and modern form across Scotland.
£10 plus booking fee, disabled access, under 16s accompanied by parent or guardian
