Llangollen Fringe Festival gets underway tomorrow, Friday, September 4, bringing ten nights of music, comedy and creative events to the town.

The festival runs until September 13, with headline performances at Llangollen Town Hall alongside a much wider programme of free concerts, workshops, family activities, spoken word and pop-up events in venues across the town.

Among this year's headline names are Mr Scruff, Skinny Lister, Ryan Young, BCUC, Talisk, Nubiyan Twist, Gwenno, Kasai Masai and The Selecter.

The festival opens with comedian Andrew Maxwell, known for Live at the Apollo, Have I Got News For You and Mock the Week, at the Town Hall tomorrow night.

On Saturday, electronic music producer Mr Scruff and MC Kwasi take over the venue.

The programme then moves between Welsh-language music, Scottish folk, jazz, soul, African and Congolese music, 2-Tone and contemporary folk, reflecting the international outlook that has become a feature of the Fringe.

Artists this year are coming from Wales and the UK as well as countries including South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Canada.

But it is the festival's free programme which gives Llangollen Fringe much of its distinctive character.

The Music Around Town programme on Sunday, September 6 and Saturday, September 12 will see free live music spread between Gales' Wine Bar, The Hand Hotel, The Three Eagles and Bridge End Hotel, with performers ranging from folk and acoustic music to jazz, rock and more experimental sounds.

There's also a strong emphasis on traditional music through Trad Lab, with free workshops and sessions giving people the chance to learn and participate rather than simply watch. Activities include Welsh traditional singing, Arabic folk singing and workshops involving instruments and arranging traditional tunes.

A new addition for 2026 is Scotland Introducing, a partnership with Showcase Scotland Expo bringing emerging Scottish folk artists to Llangollen. Performers include Mairi McGillivray, Abigail Pryde, Luke Daniels Trio, Niamh Corkey and Findlay Napier.

There is plenty aimed at families and younger audiences too, including percussion, puppetry and poetry activities. On September 12, children can meet the prehistoric world at The Dinosaurs Are Back! and take part in a dinosaur workshop.

The festival also reaches beyond music, with spoken-word events, storytelling, creative workshops and opportunities for people to contribute their own work.

Among the more unusual events is The Legendary High & Mighty, a free storytelling event at Castell Dinas Brân on the final Sunday of the festival, combining a walk up to the historic hilltop castle with stories and folklore.

There will also be a free spoken-word showcase at Gales' Wine Bar, while Canadian singer-songwriter Dave Gunning and Welsh-Arabic ensemble Panedeni are among the artists appearing during the festival.

Panedeni's performance is a good example of the cultural mix the Fringe has developed, bringing together Welsh and Arabic musical traditions with songs performed in several languages.

The Fringe has an unusually long history for an event of its size. It began in July 1997, originally operating from an improvised tent on an out-of-town playing field. It later moved through a converted weavers' shed before establishing its home in Llangollen Town Hall.

Over almost three decades, the volunteer-run festival has hosted artists from Wales and around the world, including Cerys Matthews, Charlotte Church, The Beat, The Blockheads and Sir Andrew Motion.

The organisers say the original aim of providing entertainment and education for the community has developed into a broader ambition to promote cultural, social, economic and environmental sustainability.

Artistic Director Neal Thompson said there was a real buzz building around this year's festival.

He said: “We’ve got ten brilliant nights at the Town Hall, with artists coming here from across Wales and the UK, as well as South Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Canada and beyond.”

Tickets remain available for the headline performances, while a limited number of ten-night Festival Passes are available for £120.

However, a large part of the programme can be enjoyed without buying a ticket, making the Fringe as much a town-wide cultural event as a series of ticketed concerts.

Llangollen Fringe runs from September 4 to 13.

Details of the full programme, tickets and free events are available from the Llangollen Fringe website.