Folk, roots and acoustic musicians are packing their guitars and banjos for Portland this month, as the 2026 Far-West Music Conference takes over the DoubleTree by Hilton in Portland from Oct. 15 through Oct. 18. The four-day gathering features workshops, concerts, jam sessions and panels.
The annual event celebrates folk, roots, and acoustic music, according to KOIN.com, which spoke with organizers ahead of this year's conference. Todd Lawrence of Far-West and Woody Moran of Artichoke Community Music joined KOIN's AM Extra program for a preview of what attendees can expect, and singer-songwriter Nathan Earle performed live music during the segment.
What's On The Schedule In Portland's Lloyd District
The official conference page, run by the organization itself, identifies this year's gathering as 2026 FAR-West Connects and places it at the DoubleTree by Hilton-Portland, according to far-west.org. One-day passes for Friday and Saturday are planned to become available closer to the conference.
The 2026 program includes a Wednesday night open mic hosted by Artichoke Music-Portland, a Thursday Presenters' Choice Showcase, private late-night showcases and a Best of the West Awards Luncheon and Ceremony, organizers say. Community meals and evening showcase concerts round out the offerings, giving attendees chances to eat, perform and mingle throughout the long weekend.
Private Late-Night Showcases On The Schedule
The 2026 conference program includes private late-night showcases.
A Gathering Point For The Region's Folk Scene
The conference offers workshops, panels and performances at one venue over four days. Registration is available, with the regular rate in effect through Oct. 16; one-day passes for Friday and Saturday are expected to become available closer to the conference.
