The Vancouver Folk Music Festival, founded in 1978, stands as one of Canada's longest-running and most respected music festivals. Held annually at ʔəy̓alməxʷ Jericho Beach Park on Vancouver's west side, the festival brings together tens of thousands of music fans to celebrate traditional and contemporary folk and roots music from around the world.

What began as a community gathering has evolved into an internationally recognized event. The festival moved from its original location at Stanley Park in 1980 to the spacious Jericho Beach venue, where it has grown into a weekend-long celebration that draws over 40 international, national, and local artists across multiple performance stages and spaces. The mission statement—"We are the folk, this is our festival"—reflects its grassroots, community-centered approach.

The 49th annual edition in 2026 features a diverse lineup spanning roots, blues, indie folk, and world music acts including established international artists and emerging talent. The festival operates as a cashless event with wristband entry, runs rain or shine, and emphasizes accessibility and community engagement through volunteers, workshops, children's activities, an artisan market, and food vendors. Early bird weekend passes start at CAD $225 for adults, with single-day tickets and discounts for seniors and youth available. The festival has received recognition as Best Local Music Festival from both Georgia Straight and Westender readers.

The organization acknowledges the festival takes place on the unceded and ancestral territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.