Northsea Folk & Shantyfestival, Blankenberge

The annual Northsea Folk & Shantyfestival has been held in Blankenberge in West Flanders, Belgium for a number of years now, and there have been many performances by folk and shanty choirs from home and abroad during the two-day Harbour Festivals.

In 2026 this was on Friday 15 May and Saturday 16 May.

On 6 stages you can listen to traditional and modern sailor songs in all languages about the long wait, the drink, the return of the fisherman, the hard existence of the fisherman and the fisherman’s wife and about forbidden and lost loves.

On Friday evening, the mirror tent is the setting for a cosy sing-along with some of the participants. On Saturday night, each shanty choir in the festival tent sings and they join forces in a jam session for a full party tent.

“Thank you for a great North Sea Folk & Shantyfestival in Blankenberge! See you next year for the celebration of 75 editions!”

For several years now, the Harbour Festival has featured a variety of performances by folk and shanty choirs from both home and abroad on Friday and Saturday afternoons. In 2025, these will take place on Friday 30 May and Saturday 31 May.

Across six stages, you can enjoy traditional and modern sea shanties in many languages about the long wait, booze, the return of the fisherman, the harsh life at sea for both fishermen and their wives, and tales about forbidden and lost loves.

On Friday evening, the mirror tent will set the scene for a cozy sing-along with several of the participating groups. On Saturday evening, each shanty choir will perform in the festival tent, joining their forces in a lively jam session with all choirs in front of a packed audience

Blankenberge is a seaside municipality and city in the Belgian province of West Flanders and comprises the town of Blankenberge proper and the settlement of Uitkerke. On 1 December 2014, Blankenberge had a total population of just under 2,000 people. Once a fishing port, it now accommodates some 1,000 pleasure boats.