Media accreditation applications for the Winnipeg Folk Fest are now OPEN!
Download our media kit for Festival assets, approved Festival photos and concert assets!
Password located in your media release.
Media Releases
12/08/2025 - Tickets to the 51st Winnipeg Folk Festival are now on sale
02/19/2026 - 25th Year of the Winnipeg Folk Festival Young Performers Program
03/05/2026 - The Winnipeg Folk Festival 2026 Lineup Announced
04/02/2026 - Winnipeg Folk Festival Announced Main Stage and Big Blue @ Night Schedules
05/28/2026 - Winnipeg Folk Festival Announces the Daytime Stage Schedule
Media Accreditation
All media requesting media access to the Winnipeg Folk Fest must be accredited by Winnipeg Folk Fest staff in advance of the event. Staff will not be accrediting media on-site.
Please read the Media Guidelines below CAREFULLY before filling out the Media Accreditation Application.
The Winnipeg Folk Fest cannot guarantee you will receive the number of passes requested.
General Information
Affiliated Applicants Only
All applicants must be affiliated with a news outlet. Additional media passes will not be granted for unaffiliated guests.
Limited Passes Available
Due to the high volume of requests that we receive, we cannot accept all requests. Please note that you are not guaranteed to receive a media pass even if you covered a previous edition of the Winnipeg Folk Festival.
Freelance Writers and Photographers
Freelance writers and photographers must be on assignment to a media outlet. The media outlet must fill in the request for you.
Blogs and Webzines
A limited number of credentials are available for bloggers and webzines. Please help us by providing detailed information on the nature of coverage you are planning to produce and be sure to let us know how many followers/visitors you have.
Band Photographers
If you are affiliated with a band, you must obtain your passes from the band's guest list. Please note that we will not be accepting requests from filmmakers doing band documentaries.
Media Guidelines
Pit Access
Photo pit access allows one photographer per media outlet per performance for the first three songs ONLY (no flash) for most performances. Please check with the Media Tent for artist photo restrictions. The number of photographers who have access to the photo pit will be limited.
Number of Access Passes
All media passholders should hold only a single Festival credential, meaning they cannot also hold a volunteer pass, sponsorship pass, etc. These various passes allow different levels of access that media should not have access to.
Photo Permissions
Artist images taken in the pit are NOT permitted for personal use and should be used for your media outlet ONLY. In your application, you agree to ensure that those images will not be available for sale to third parties.
Audio/Visual Recordings
Accreditation to the Winnipeg Folk Festival does NOT permit media to record audio or video of performances.
Backstage Access
Media may NOT access the backstage area/under the tent canopy of any daytime stage. Your media pass grants access to the Winnipeg Folk Festival site up to and as far as the Media Tent.
Please remember that some of these restrictions are imposed due to safety concerns and artist requests.
Festival Campground Media Policy
Our Festival Campground is a no-media zone, and our campers have come to expect that media will not be there. It's a special place where people are free to be creative and expressive without being concerned about being under a lens. On the Festival site, feel free to approach people, ask if they're camping and how their experience is. We also don't allow any photography in the campground where people can be identified, out of respect for their privacy.
All applications must be received by May 31, 2026. Please note we will NOT accept late or incomplete requests.
Once you fill in the form, you will receive an auto-reply, confirming your request. If you don’t receive the reply, your request has not been submitted correctly. Please try again.
All applicants will be contacted with confirmation or denial of the request along with further instructions. Please DO NOT contact us with questions regarding the status of your application.
Media Pass Information
Your media pass grants access to the Winnipeg Folk Fest site up to and as far as the Media Tent. It does not provide access to the backstage area or the campgrounds. Please do not show up at the backstage vehicle entrance you will not be permitted backstage. Please wear your pass at all times while at the Festival. Lost passes cannot be replaced.
Out of respect for the artists playing our Festival and their performances, media may not access the backstage area/under the tent canopy of any daytime stage.
Accreditation to the Winnipeg Folk Fest does not permit media to record audio or video of performances unless the media person obtains special permission from the artist.
We ask that you share the space: only one photographer per media outlet per performance will have access to the Main Stage pit. You may only shoot the first three songs on an SLR camera, no flash, unless otherwise specified. Each artist reserves the right to refuse pit photography during their set. Please visit the Media Tent daily to check on artist photo restriction updates.
All accreditation passes MUST be picked up in the city prior to the festival. If your outlet is accepted you will receive an email upon acceptance regarding how to pick up your media pass.
If you are camping you MUST have your media pass to accompany your camping upgrade at ALL TIMES. If you plan to camp on Wednesday, please make sure to pick up your passes in our office BEFORE arriving on site.
Media are asked to check in at the main Media Tent upon arrival each day of the Festival to learn of any changes or special restrictions for the day’s performers and to meet a Winnipeg Folk Fest representative that will escort you throughout the Festival site. The Media Tent is located audience left of the Main Stage.
The Media Tent is located beside the Main Stage. The tent is set up for working media and is equipped with wireless internet access. A Media Tent workspace is set up with tables and chairs to work and so interviews may be conducted. Please respect the presence of other media at work when you are there. The Media Tent’s hours of operation are:
- Thursday: 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM
- Friday: 10:30 AM - 9:30 PM
- Saturday: 10:30 AM - 9:30 PM
- Sunday: 10:30 AM - 9:00 PM
A limited number of media parking spots are located by the main gate by the blue flag. They are marked with signs. Spots are available based on a first-come, first-serve basis and are there to serve media who have heavy gear to carry in.
There will be no backstage parking and no exceptions. The backstage area is a no-media zone. Only broadcast trucks who are headed to the media staging area for a live broadcast may go backstage to access the road to the staging area.
Please consider the safety of the bikes, foot and gator traffic on this road and go MAX 20 km.
The Festival has two First Aid tents - one on the Festival site located by Bur Oak stage and another in the Festival Campground. If you find yourself in a situation where you can’t get to the First Aid tent, flag down a safety volunteer (in a blue vest). They will help get the assistance you need.
Do you have a media inquiry? Reach out to our communications department through the form below.