Frequently Asked Questions
courses
Our Festival Courses offer unique and unrivalled opportunities for composers and conductors to work with professional ensembles, to meet fellow musicians and to experience high quality performance in an intense and unforgettable experience. Our Writers' Course allows writers to work in an concentrated period of time with experienced practitioners with opportunities to reveal their work in Festival performance and publications as well as the opportunity to collaborate with composers and musicians.
PLEASE NOTE that our Courses are suspended for the moment because of the Covid - 19 pandemic. We hope they will return in the near future.
How difficult is it to find accommodation on Orkney during the Festival?
Many people travel to visit the Festival and there is a limit to accommodation capacity. Book early if you can and hiring a car can sometimes allow for more options. There is a range of hotel, B&B and self-catering accommodation available.
Do you have a box office?
The Festival Box Office is situated in the heart of Kirkwall at 13 Albert Street. You can book your tickets there in person or online.
Are there Festival discounts available for Senior Citizens?
No. Available discounts are directed at the younger and lower income audiences.
Are Festival tickets refundable?
No.
Does wheelchair seating for Festival performances have to be booked in advance?
Yes. All venues have limits on the number of wheelchairs that can be accommodated, and they are always booked soon after tickets are released for sale.
Do people who accompany wheelchair users have to pay for their Festival performance tickets?
No. Each wheelchair user space is allowed one seat for a person to accompany them.
Can I exchange Festival performance tickets?
No.
Can I put my name on a waiting list for Festival tickets?
The Festival operates a limited service that tries to put people wanting tickets in touch with those who may have tickets available, but since our policy is no refunds or exchanges on tickets, this is more akin to an intermediary service than a waiting list.
When do brochures become available to the public?
We aim to have the brochures available in early March each year (excluding Festivals during the Covid pandemic).
Does the Festival provide transport to performances outside Kirkwall and Stromness?
Generally not, but where transport is available the option to purchase tickets for that is available at the time of purchase of performance tickets.
Can the Festival help with finding accommodation?
No. Orkney.com provides a comprehensive accommodation service, and the advice is to find and book accommodation well in advance of the Festival as it is particularly busy throughout Orkney at that time of year.
Can I collect my Festival performance tickets from the Box Office?
Our preferred method of ticket distribution is to post tickets out well in advance of the Festival. However, tickets can be collected from the Box Office when it is open. Tickets can be printed off at home, and e-tickets can also be used. In certain limited circumstances, tickets can be held on the venue door for collection at the performance.
If I lose my tickets, or forget to bring them with me, can the Festival provide me with duplicates?
If tickets are lost, or are left on the mantelpiece at home, the Box Office can provide duplicates to anyone who is able to come to the office to collect them during normal opening hours.
We encourage people to take good care of their tickets in order to avoid any issues.
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