06/06/2026
The island is again a buzz with the sound of music . This weekend is the turn of the very long running annual glorious folk festival
For the Daily Record's latest Village of the Week, we are journeying to a charming settlement on one of Scotland's most beautiful islands đ
It is worth a visit any time of the year, but this weekend in particular is special because it will be hosting a beloved annual music festival.
Brodick is the main village on the Isle of Arran in the Firth of Clyde, situated approximately halfway along the east coast of the island. Home to a population of approximately 890 people, the lovely little village can be found in Brodick Bay below Goatfellâthe tallest mountain on Arran.
Brodick will be the main hub of the 2026 Arran Folk Festival, which will be held between June 5 and 7 at various venues across Brodick and beyond. Dating back to 1989, the long-running festival features an exciting programme of concerts, interactive sessions, and workshops.
One of the main venues for this year's Arran Folk Festival will be the Douglas Hotel, which will host an open session with local musician Uncle Keith. Festival-goers can bring along their instrument or song ideas, or just go and listen to incredible musicians do what they do best.
The Arran Folk Festival website states: "The first ever Folk Festival on the Isle of Arran was almost 55 years ago! It was then re-invented in 1989 and 2019 saw us celebrate our official 25th Anniversary (it only took us 30 years to get there!)
"We then suffered a two-year hiatus thanks to Covid. However, 2026 brings us the 30th Arran Folk Festival which will feature three free-to-attend afternoon sessions with Uncle Keith at the Douglas Hotel, three evening concerts in Brodick Village Hall and three late-night sessions. There will also be some special free-to-attend workshops."
Other than the Arran Folk Festival, there is plenty else to see and do around Brodick. One of the top destinations is the Arran Chocolate Factory, where visitors can browse a huge selection of local handmade chocolatesâfrom white and dark chocolate to caramel and truffles.
Elsewhere, if you get lucky with the weather, then you should definitely head to Brodick Beach at some point during your visit. Among the biggest and most popular beaches on the island, it sits below the iconic Goatfell and offers beautiful views out over the magnificent waters.
