Counterflows Festival 2027. Festival Passes now available
It gives us great pleasure to say that Counterflows Festival will be returning in 2027 on the 31st March – 4th April in Glasgow.
Full Festival passes are now on sale in standard, solidarity and limited pay what you want tiers.
Low-income tickets are sold out for now, but we’ll releasing some more in January to co-incide with the artist line-up launch.
The festival line-up will be announced in early January. Expect a carefully webbed-together selection of local and international artists, with live performances, commissions, collaborations, a club night, hangouts, a small publishers fair, karaoke (!), workshops and more. All attendees will also receive a copy of our limited edition Counterflows on Paper zine, edited by Helen Charman & Joel White.
After 15 years of Counterflows we remain a small festival, with maximum capacity of 700 people. A lot has has changed over that time, but in many ways we’re staying the same. Instead of moving around venues loads, we’ll be positioning all our evening events in the Woodside Halls, a space that’s become a home of some sort for us. Day time events will be situated in different spots in the city, with late night hang outs and our one Saturday club night taking place at The Art School. Everywhere will be walkable on foot, and we’ll leave plenty time in the programme (including dinner breaks) so you can catch everything.
This year our own team will be working closely on bespoke sound and lighting rigs, making sure everything sounds and looks as good as possible.
It also gives us great pleasure to be collaborating with some other Glasgow-based organisers on parts of the programme, including events with Listen Gallery, Tanum Sound System and more.
You will notice we have an extra day in the programme this year. On the 31st of March we’re excited to host the premier listening party of A Sound Map of the River Clyde, which we have been working on collaboratively over the past year. There’s still some time if you want to get involved and submit your own recordings as part of it. The deadline for submissions is 18th December 2026. Link for further details can be found here.
We look forward to joining you all for 5 days of listening together, dancing together, and open up possibilities.
Counterflows Festival 2027 is funded by Creative Scotland, British Council, Lithuanian Cultural Institute, Archipel Festival and MEG – Museum of Ethnography, Geneva, Creative Compass Georgia and Youth Music Initiative (YMI).
FAQ
Where will the festival be based?
Evening events at the festival will be based at the Woodside Halls. Other spaces will be situated in the city centre and a bit in the West End.
What are the timings at the festival?
Each evening event starts approximately around 7pm and run ’til 10.30pm/11pm. On the Friday, Saturday & Sunday of the festival there will be a selection of day time events, plus after show hang-outs. On the Saturday night our club night at the Art School will run 11pm until 3am. Detailed timings will be shared in February.
Festival passes are sold out! How do I get one?
We will have some more festival passes on sale in January when we announce the artist line-up. Individual event passes will be on sale in February. You can also join the waiting list for re-sell tickets on Ticket Tailor.
How should I get around?
All venues are within 15 minutes walk of one another. For those using public transport, details on how to get to each venue will be shared in February. For environmental reasons, we strongly recommend using public transport or bikes to travel to and from the festival. If using a car we strongly recommend during a carpool sharing.
Where should I stay?
If you are coming to the festival we recommend getting accommodation near the city centre. The full festival is walkable on foot, with venues situated closely within each other.
I have a festival pass. Do this get me into everything at the festival?
Yes, it does! The only events you need to book onto in advance separately are workshops or small events. Details of those will be announced in February.
I can’t make the festival anymore and want to sell my ticket.
We no longer offer refunds for festival passes, but we use Ticket Tailor’s partner company Tixel as a safe and ethical way for customers to re-sell their tickets. Details on doing so can be found here.
What is access for the festival like?
All venues will have step free-access and disabled toilets. If you want specific details in advance, or would like to ask us any access related questions, please message us at counterflows@gmail.com
Detailed access documents for each venue – including safeguarding information – will be listed on our website from February onwards.
We do 2-for-1 tickets for audience members who require a carer to join them. After you have purchased a ticket, message us on counterflows@gmail.com to reserve your free 2nd ticket.
We have a dedicated safeguarding officer at the festival. All venues will be equipped with gender neutral toilets.
If you struggle to stand for long periods and require a seat reservation let us know and we can reserve that for you.
What about food?
We’ve created breaks in the programme to allow for you time to get food in the city.
In February we will share a map with you with some recommended food and drink options near the venues at the festival.
Is it card or cash at venues?
All venues at the festival accept cash and card payments.
Is the festival 18+?
All events at the festival are all ages, as long as under 18s are accompanied by an adult at all times. The only 18s+ only events will be the late night hangs outs and clubs at The Art School.
Do you have any safeguarding procedures?
Yes we do. Our safeguarding officers will be on hand in bright orange t-shirts if you have any safeguarding questions and concerns. We will share more details on our safeguarding measures in February.
