- Performer Applications (Open October 1 – November 15)
- Songwriting Applications (Open October 1 – December 1)
- Young Artist Showcase Applications (Open October 1 – January 15)
- Vendor Applications (Open June 1 – March 1)
PERFORMER APPLICATIONS
The Tucson Folk Festival is a free-to-the-public music festival that annually features over 150 performances and 450 musicians, including volunteer performances and paid featured acts and headliners. Performers include local, regional, and national acts featuring a range of styles. Performer selection is a blind juried process that relies primarily on recorded submissions. The selection committee makeup is 5 to 10 TKMA members, past festival performers, musicians, longtime music lovers, sponsors, and TKMA Board Members. Over 300 performers apply yearly for a coveted stage spot at the Festival. About 60% of our performers are from Greater Tucson, 20% are from Arizona (outside of Tucson), and 20% are from out-of-state.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Jerry Martin, Festival Performer Coordinator, jerrymmartin@mail.com
| October 1 | Application period opens. No Application Fee through October 31. |
| November 1 | Late application period opens. $30 Application Fee through November 15. |
| November 15 | Performer application period closes at 11:59 PM. No applications will be considered after this date. |
| January 1 | Performer selections and schedule announced. |
| January 15 | Performer deadline for confirmation back to TKMA. |
SONGWRITING COMPETITION
The Stefan George Memorial Songwriting Competition is a beloved part of the Festival each year – a chance for established and emerging songwriters to share new insights and fresh songs inspired by the times and play for an audience hanging on every lyric. Each year, dozens of entrants compete for a spot in the finalist showcase at the Tucson Folk Festival. The winner and runner-up of this showcase receive a coveted evening slot at the Saturday night festival.
To read about the competition history, watch videos from past winners, and see awards for this year, please visit this page.
| October 1 | Application period opens. Includes a $30 Application Fee (Non-refundable) |
| December 1 | Songwriter application period closes at 11:59 PM. No applications will be considered after this date. |
| February 5 | Songwriting Finalist selections announced |
| Friday April 10 | Songwriting Finals Concert on Plaza Stage |
| Saturday April 11 | Songwriting Winner and Runner-Up Perform on the Plaza Stage at the Festival |
YOUNG ARTIST APPLICATIONS
The Roger Mikulas Young Artist Showcase is an annual performance opportunity at the Tucson Folk Festival open to anyone 18 years or younger. An opportunity for young, up-and-coming musicians, the showcase is a fun and welcoming environment that offers a chance to perform on a professional stage at a popular community event! Roger Mikulas was a strong supporter and one of the founders of the Young Artist Stage in 2006. Organized today by Board Member Ron Pandy, the showcase continues to showcase some of Tucson’s youngest and most promising musicians.
Questions? Please contact our Young Artist Showcase Coordinator Ron Pandy at RonPandy@gmail.com.
| October 1 | Application period opens |
| January 15 | Young Artist application period closes at 11:59 PM. Applications will be considered after this date for any slots not filled on a first come basis. |
| February 15 | Young Artist Showcase Artists Announced |
| April 11-12 | Young Artist Showcase on the Wildflower Stage during the Festival Weekend |
VENDOR APPLICATIONS
VENDOR-EXHIBITOR APPLICATIONS OPEN: June 1
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: March 1 (or until sold out)
Festival Hours:
Saturday April 11, 2026, 12 PM – 9:30 PM*
Sunday April 12, 2026, 11 AM – 8:30 PM*
*Vendors need to be open: 12 PM – 7 PM on Saturday, 11:30 AM – 7 PM on Sunday. Vendors may stay open after required hours.
Outdoor Parking Lot Pavement – Tent Required – Maximum of 50 vendors
The Tucson Folk Festival is a music festival celebrating Americana and Folk Music traditions and all the wonderful variations, including bluegrass, blues, country, jazz, Celtic, and various styles of Latin and Mexican music. This annual family-friendly festival began in 1986 and is held in some of the most historic sections of Tucson. The Tucson Folk Festival features six stages of live music with more than 150 performances, a community vendor and food marketplace, kids and family activities, a songwriting competition, and a beer and beverage garden. The festival is a music-focused event and draws more than 15,000 attendees in person each year. The Tucson Folk Festival is presented by the Tucson Kitchen Musicians Association (TKMA) with production support from the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance (SAACA).
The festival vendor marketplace features 40 vendors and 10 food booths on Church Ave, with direct walking access to multiple music stages located within two blocks. Participating vendors are approximately 50% artisans, 25% business exhibitors and 25% non-profits. We intersperse arts and crafts vendors with food vendors to encourage the best flow and foot traffic for your booth. Electricity is available by order only to booth vendors located along Church Avenue. Please indicate on your application if you would like to order electricity access. As this is a music festival, generators are not permitted. All booths can hear some stage ambient music, but are placed where you are still able to converse comfortably with your customers.
Booth Pricing
- ARTISAN – SINGLE -12’ x 12’ artist booth space $275
- ARTISAN – DOUBLE – 12’ x 24’ artist booth space $500
- BUSINESS EXHIBITOR – SINGLE – 12’x12′ exhibitor booth space $450
- BUSINESS EXHIBITOR – DOUBLE – 12’x24′ exhibitor booth space $800
- NON-PROFIT – SINGLE 12’x12′ nonprofit booth space $200