Medieval Music in the Dales
September 12-14 2025
"globally unique"
"the best music festival I’ve ever attended"
"fantastic things happening everywhere at every possible moment in every possible corner!"
"truly magical"
"a brilliant, beautiful, unique, and lovely festival"
Medieval Music in the Dales is England's festival of medieval music. Totally unique, it's a glorious three-day extravaganza dedicated solely to enjoying medieval music.
The setting is absolutely stunning - magnificent Bolton Castle built in 1399 by the noble Scrope family and still in the ownership of their descendants to this day.
Over the weekend, the Castle comes to life with music in every corner. It's true living history and a chance to make this incredible setting your home for the weekend - or just for the day.
Whether you want to play, dance, learn or simply sit back and soak up the wonderful sounds, this is for you.
Every year, Medieval Music in the Dales hosts a curated selection of superlative musicians in concert. Six daytime concerts in St Oswald’s Church, two early evening concerts in Queen Mary’s Chamber are all included in the Festival Pass. There are also two evening concerts that are separately ticketed.
Listen to great music!
The Instrument Makers Exhibition brings together wonderful luthiers from the UK and sometimes further afield. This is a chance to try out amazing medieval instruments - and of course even buy! Shawms, lutes, harps, crumhorns, whistles, gitterns, bagpipes…. we’ve got the lot!
Discover instruments
We usually have at least twenty workshops at the Festival - vocal, instrumental, dance… all included in the Festival Pass, as are at least four talks. Plus every year at least one Study Day - a whole-day workshop focusing on a key element of the year’s theme - this is ticketed separately.
Learn skills
There are so many opportunities to perform at Medieval Music in the Dales. You can sign up as a Performer on the Castle Stages and do a couple of sets over the weekend, or just join in on one of the led or free-form sessions that go on every evening in one of our two Taverns.
Perform
It all happens in and around Bolton Castle
In the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, our location is a tonic in itself - amazing views, great walks…
Interested in performing at Medieval Music in the Dales? Click the link for more information on being a Concert or Castle Stage performer.
Would you like to help out at Medieval Music in the Dales in our team of Stewards? Click the link for more info and to sign up for 2024.
