As we bask in the seemingly endless length of the summer days, the long nights of winter may be a distant thought, but the ever turning wheel of the year continues and we quietly look towards the future. To aid us in this transition we are delighted to invite nominations, including self nominations, for our Samhuinn 2026 Court.

Samhuinn, the Celtic quarter day that marks the beginning of winter, heralds the fading breath of summer and the steadfast arrival of winter. It is a time to welcome the spirits and gather in remembrance, honouring the abundance and beauty of the season that has passed. As the wheel turns, we reflect on endings, releasing what no longer serves us, while embracing the promise of renewal and rebirth yet to come.

At the heart of our story is the Cailleach, the eye of the storm and the force around which the festival revolves. Her presence guides us through the turning of the wheel; the turning of the seasons lies in Her hands. We look forward to seeing Her make Herself known this year.

She is joined by the Summer and Winter Kings, opposing forces or two aspects of the same being. At Samhuinn, the Summer King stands at the twilight of his reign, his splendour fading with the last warmth of the year. In the deepening shadows, the Winter King stirs, preparing to step forward and guide us through the season of darkness.

1. Key dates
2. What we look for
3. Selection process
4. Nominating a member of the community
5. Self-nomination / how to apply

Key Dates

• Deadline for community nominations, Cailleach: Wednesday 15th July
• Deadline for self applications, Cailleach: Tuesday 21st July
• Interviews, Cailleach: Saturday 25th / Sunday 26th July

• Deadline for community nominations, Kings: Wednesday 29th July
• Deadline for self applications, Kings: Tuesday 4th August
• Interviews, Kings: Saturday 8th / Sunday 9th August

What we look for

As ever, please note that factors such as gender, sexuality, socioeconomic status, age, race, and physical ability are not criteria used in the selection of any BFS Court figure.

The most essential selection criteria relate to treating others with respect, and adhering to the BFS Code of Conduct.

Then, we look variously for things like recent and active participation in BFS festivals, interpersonal skills, a respect for and embodiment of the principles and qualities of the community, and the ability to inspire and to bring people together. 

We also look for performance and presence, for the ability to bring the role to life – attributes that you may have demonstrated in roles within or outwith BFS. 

Beyond these factors, it is more akin to casting than a job application; sometimes we find ourselves looking for the lightning strike, for the right person at the right time. If you feel like you don’t “fit the profile” of previous Cailleachs, Kings, or Queens, please do not let this hold you back; They may be found in anyone. If there’s anything we can do to empower and support you to apply, please get in touch with us at blues@beltane.org. 

Putting yourself forward for consideration is a vulnerable and sometimes challenging thing to do, and we endeavour to be kind and fair to all applicants. 

You can read more about Court selection criteria and processes here.

Please do not let your availability limit you from applying; we understand that life happens and will endeavour to find an alternative interview time.

Court roles can be intense and deeply personal. It is customary for Court figures to gather a handful of dedicated helpers to assist with practicalities during the run-up to the event, such as costume-making and admin. They may also wish to invite a small entourage to perform with them on the night. In applying for the role you should carefully consider the availability of your support network before, during and after the festival.

As ever, we welcome joint applications for both Summer and Winter Kings, or solo applications for either role. We would, however, prefer for our Cailleach applicants to be solo applicants.

Successful Court applicants should be available for the GO Weekend and ideally the Open Meeting. We don’t currently have dates for the GO weekend, but it is likely to be the 22-23rd of August*. This post will be updated to reflect those dates once available. The Samhuinn Open Meeting will be on Saturday 5th September.

*We know, that’s tight and not great. Unfortunately, we have to move out of Beltonia on the weekend of 29-30th August.

Selection process

The Blues, along with a representative from the Board, will form a panel, drawing up a shortlist of candidates for each role. That shortlist will be passed to the Safeguarding Team for checking, and then those shortlisted for the roles will be invited to meet the panel for an interview. Our new Cailleach will be notified, and will then join the Kings’ selection panel, to attend interviews for those shortlisted for the roles of Summer King and Winter King. The final decision on all roles will be announced to the membership soon after, allowing enough time for unsuccessful applicants to put together Group Organiser applications if they so wish. 

The timelines are tight this year; if Group Organiser applications overlap with Court selection, please do feel free to also submit a Group Organiser application – make sure your prospective co-GOs know what they’d do if you’re selected for Court. Putting in a GO application won’t affect your Court application.

Nominating a member of the community

Members of BFS may nominate a fellow member, or members, for any role. If you wish to nominate someone who you believe could really embody the role, please send their name to blues@beltane.org. (Ideally with their surname and any nicknames, so we know who you’re referring to!) 

We’d love a few words, if you feel moved, about why you think they would embody the role well. The member(s) will then be informed of the nomination, and invited to consider whether they wish to apply for the role. 

The deadlines for community nominations are:

• Cailleach: Wednesday 15th July
• Kings: Wednesday 29th July

Self-nomination / How to apply

If you are feeling drawn to one of these roles, send an email to blues@beltane.org with the following information:

• your name
• contact details
• the role you wish to be considered for (Cailleach, Summer King, or Winter King)
• your general availability across the Samhuinn period (August – Mid November, and specifically the dates for interview, GO weekend and Open Meeting)
• And some words in support of your application, such as how you envision your chosen role, how you feel connected to them or any part of the performance, or any narrative ideas you may have. This can be EITHER:
  • Up to 500 words, OR
  • A video / voice note of no more than four minutes.

The video / voice note option is simply an accessibility measure, to allow for folk who struggle with the written word to access the process more easily. Therefore, we’re not expecting any production, we’re just looking to hear your words!

Notes on word count/time limit:

• Your name, contact, and availability don’t count towards your 500 words or 4 minutes!
• We’d encourage you to focus on the real core of how you see your chosen role. If you’re going over the word/time limit, we’d suggest seeing if everything you say directly relates to what matters most to you about the figure you are drawn to, and the story you see. We’re looking for the heart of it, not the fine details!
• But – if you find you’re cutting things down and still going a little bit over the word/time limit, don’t stress too much about getting it down to the limit exactly. If it’s more than a few words/seconds over the limit, we will ask you to trim it down before we’ll consider it, but it’s not a disaster if you’re a few seconds or words over.

Accessibility:

• If there are any access barriers to sending in your application, let us know, and we’ll work with you to find accommodations that fit your needs. 
• All candidates invited to interview will be given the option in their invitation to tell us if they have any access needs for their interview.
• Once selected, our new Cailleach and Kings will be given the option to tell us about any access needs they have for the run up itself. 
• And as always, if your access needs change, you can let us know at any time.

The deadlines for applications are:

• Cailleach: Tuesday 21st July
• Kings: Tuesday 4th August

If you have any questions, get in touch with blues@beltane.org.