Govan Music Festival by The Glasgow Barons celebrates its fifth year

Govan's own music festival has marked five years of bringing affordable, high-quality music to the heart of its community. Govan Music Festival, organised by regeneration orchestra The Glasgow Barons, ran from Sunday 22 to Saturday 28 March 2026, drawing thousands of residents and visitors.

More than 200 musicians and performers took part across six days, at venues including Glasgow's Grand Ole Opry, Edmiston House and Govan and Linthouse Parish Church. With a top ticket price of just five pounds, the festival continues to break down barriers to the arts.

The 2026 programme celebrated Govan's shipbuilding heritage and Glasgow's modern multiculturalism. Pupils from Riverside Primary School created and performed a new mini musical, The Great Govan Sea Voyage, telling the story of shipbuilding in Govan and of those who left for a new life abroad. It was co-created with theatre director John Binnie and composer Karen MacIver, and was the result of years of work by The Glasgow Barons to help Govan schools rebuild their choirs.

The festival also hosted its first ever Bhangra night, headlined by DCS, one of the UK's longest running Bhangra bands, with support from Roma-Indian band Rootless. A World of Ceilidh night brought together the award-winning Musicians in Exile and Ceithir Ceilidh Band, while The Glasgow Barons Orchestra performed The Auld Alliance, a concert celebrating Scottish and French music including a new commission by composer Richard Greer.

Recovery community event Freed Up Friday returned with local singer-songwriters, and the Four Barons String Quartet also performed.

Paul MacAlindin, artistic director of The Glasgow Barons and Govan Music Festival, said the community has become close to the festival and really cares about celebrating the area's artistic spirit. Seeing everyone come together to celebrate shared heritage and musical talent, he said, is exactly why the festival began five years ago, and the children's musical has given pupils memories and confidence that will last a lifetime.

The festival followed its highest ever attendances in 2025, and its mix of classical, world, folk and community music has become a much-loved fixture in the south-west of the city.

Information about The Glasgow Barons and future Govan Music Festival dates is available through the festival's website and social channels.