Festivals & events

41 celebrations through the year — pick a day to see what's on.

• New Year's Day (1 January · All regions · National) — Ireland's official start to the year with parades, celebrations and special events across the country.
• Temple Bar Trad Fest (27–30 January · Dublin · Dublin) — A vibrant celebration of traditional Irish music with sessions, workshops and performances throughout Dublin's iconic Temple Bar area.
• Imbolc Festival (1–2 February · Droichead Átha · Midlands) — An ancient Celtic festival marking the beginning of spring with storytelling, traditional crafts and spiritual ceremonies at historical sit…
• St. Brigid's Day (1 February · All regions · National) — A national celebration of Ireland's patron saint with traditional ceremonies, parades and cultural events nationwide.
• Dublin International Film Festival (All February · Dublin · Dublin) — A prestigious showcase of international and Irish cinema featuring documentaries, shorts and features from around the world.
• St. Patrick's Festival (17 March · All regions · National) — Ireland's most iconic celebration honouring St. Patrick with parades, concerts and festivities throughout the country.
• Waterford Festival of Light (All March · Waterford · Southeast) — A spring celebration featuring light installations, performances and cultural events transforming Waterford's city centre.
• Cork St. Patrick's Festival (15–17 March · Cork · Southwest) — Cork's vibrant St. Patrick's celebration featuring parades, street parties and cultural performances across the city.
• Easter (All April · All regions · National) — Ireland's major religious holiday with special masses, family gatherings and Easter egg hunts celebrated nationwide.
• Galway International Arts Festival (All July · Galway · West) — A renowned two-week celebration of theatre, music, visual arts and comedy attracting international performers and audiences.
• Forbidden Fruit (All June · Dublin · Dublin) — A cutting-edge festival blending electronic music, art installations and performances in Dublin's Herbert Park.
• Bealtaine (1 May · All regions · Dublin) — An ancient Celtic fire festival marking the start of summer with traditional bonfires, rituals and cultural celebrations.
• Loughcrew Historic Gardens Spring Fair (All May · Oldcastle · Dublin and the Midlands) — A countryside fair celebrating spring with crafts, local produce and historic garden tours in Meath.
• Westport Festival (All June · Westport · West) — A summer festival featuring traditional Irish music, street entertainment and community celebrations in picturesque Westport.
• Bloomsday (16 June · Dublin · Dublin) — A literary festival celebrating James Joyce's Ulysses with guided walks, readings and re-enactments throughout Dublin.
• Electric Picnic (All September · Laois · Dublin and the Midlands) — Ireland's premier music and arts festival featuring electronic music, theatre and visual art in Laois.
• Dún Laoghaire Festival of World Cultures (All July · Dún Laoghaire · Dublin) — A vibrant celebration of international cultures with music, dance, food and art along Dublin's coastal promenade.
• Kilkenny Arts Festival (All August · Kilkenny · Southeast) — A major cultural festival showcasing theatre, music, literature and visual arts in medieval Kilkenny.
• Dublin Fringe Festival (All September · Dublin · Dublin) — An experimental theatre festival featuring avant-garde performances, comedy and innovative arts across Dublin venues.
• Rose of Tralee (All August · Tralee · Southwest) — Ireland's most famous beauty pageant celebrating Irish heritage with a week of pageantry, music and festivities.
• Puck Fair (10–12 August · Killorglin · Southwest) — One of Ireland's oldest festivals where a wild goat is crowned king over three days of music, parades and street celebrations.
• Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann (All August · Varies · West) — Ireland's premier traditional Irish music festival attracting thousands of musicians and dancers for competitions and sessions.
• Dublin Bike Tours Summer Festival (All July · Dublin · Dublin) — A summer celebration of cycling culture with rides, exhibitions and street parties across Dublin.
• Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey & Bluegrass Festival (All May · Tullamore · Midlands) — A unique blend of Irish whiskey tastings and American bluegrass music in the heart of whiskey country.
• Cork Jazz Festival (All October · Cork · Southwest) — A world-class jazz festival featuring international and Irish artists performing across Cork venues.
• Listowel Writers' Week (All June · Listowel · Southwest) — A prestigious literary festival honouring Irish writers with readings, workshops and discussions in this literary town.
• Samhain (1 November · All regions · Dublin) — The ancient Celtic festival marking the end of summer with bonfires, costumes and supernatural celebrations nationwide.
• Dublin Web Summit (All November · Dublin · Dublin) — Europe's leading tech conference drawing thousands of entrepreneurs, investors and innovators to Dublin.
• All Hallows' Eve (31 October · All regions · National) — Ireland's most significant Halloween celebrations with parades, haunted tours and traditional Celtic festivities.
• Derry Halloween Festival (All October · Derry · Northwest) — The world's largest Halloween festival with elaborate costumes, parades and fireworks in historic Derry.
• Dunmore East Seafood Festival (All July · Dunmore East · Southeast) — A celebration of Ireland's seafood heritage with tastings, cooking demonstrations and traditional fishing village atmosphere.
• Galway Oyster Festival (All September · Galway · West) — A legendary festival celebrating oyster season with competitions, tastings and celebrations in Galway.
• Wexford Festival Opera (All October · Wexford · Southeast) — Ireland's premier opera festival featuring rare operatic works and world-class performances in historic Wexford.
• St. Brigid's Day Celebrations (1 February · Kildare · Southeast) — Traditional celebrations honouring Ireland's patroness with ceremonies and cultural events across the southeast.
• Christmas Day (25 December · All regions · National) — Ireland's major Christian holiday celebrated with family gatherings, church services and festive traditions.
• St. Stephen's Day (26 December · All regions · National) — A national public holiday traditionally marked with sporting events, parades and family celebrations.
• Cork Christmas Market (All December · Cork · Southwest) — A festive holiday market featuring crafts, food and entertainment in Cork city centre.
• Temple Bar Tradfest Winter Sessions (All December · Dublin · Dublin) — Winter traditional music sessions celebrating Irish folk culture with live performances throughout Dublin.
• Sligo Live Festival (All April · Sligo · Northwest) — A vibrant spring festival of live music and cultural performances in poetry and literature-rich Sligo.
• Belfast International Arts Festival (All October · Belfast · North) — A major autumn festival showcasing theatre, dance, music and visual arts with both traditional and contemporary performances.
• Drogheda Town & Country Fair (All August · Drogheda · East Coast) — A traditional summer fair with local crafts, food, music and family entertainment in historic Drogheda.