What's On in Ireland

Immersive family exhibition at the Ulster American Folk Park bringing Marita Conlon-McKenna's beloved Famine novel to life — running until March 2027.

Ireland's flagship international arts festival for children and families celebrates its 30th edition across Galway city and county.

Ireland's biggest architecture festival — nine days of free tours, talks and open buildings across Dublin, from private homes to landmarks.

The 64th edition of Belfast's flagship autumn arts festival brings theatre, music and dance to more than 30 venues across the city.

Cavan town's October trad weekend celebrates fiddle player and composer Ed Reavy with pub sessions, céilithe and competitions.

Killarney's film festival returns for its 27th edition with Irish and international features, short-film strands and filmmaker Q&As.

Westport's intimate literary festival, gathering writers, poets, musicians and artists in the town beneath Croagh Patrick each autumn.

Ireland's world-renowned festival of rare opera marks its 75th anniversary with three new productions at the National Opera House.

An independent film festival in the seaside village of Ballyliffin, screening shorts, features and documentaries from Ireland and abroad.

Athy's annual weekend of lectures, screenings and exhibitions devoted to Kildare-born polar explorer Ernest Shackleton.

A fortnight of live music and comedy in a mirrored big top on Wexford Quay, running alongside the opera festival each October.

North-west Ireland's biggest music festival — a fortnight of folk, roots and traditional music in theatres, arts centres and pubs across Sligo town.

World Snooker Tour ranking event at the Waterfront Hall, marking ten years of top-flight snooker in Belfast, with the Alex Higgins Trophy at stake.

Ireland's largest comedy festival returns over the October bank holiday week, headlined in 2026 by Dara Ó Briain.

Waterford's multidisciplinary autumn arts festival marks its 25th year — six days of theatre, music, dance, literature and visual art across the city.

A week-long Halloween festival at Slieve Gullion Forest Park — lantern-lit woodland trails, storytelling and theatrical performances rooted in Samhain.

Four days of choral music across Derry, with national and international competitions, workshops, choral trails and gala concerts.

Independent cinema takes over the town of The Butcher Boy in late October, with screenings, workshops and the Francie short film awards.

Ireland's flagship jazz weekend — five days over the October bank holiday with more than 500 musicians, 100 events and a free music trail across Cork.

Kilkenny's October bank holiday food festival turns 20, with a free Festival Quarter on The Parade, 100 artisan producers, chef demos and ticketed dining events.

Four days and nights of gothic adventures across Dublin for the October bank holiday — spectacle, storytelling and family Stokerland events.

Drogheda's heritage buildings lit up with animated Irish myths over the October bank holiday — a free, family-friendly festival of light.

Two days of short films, screenplay awards and filmmaker events at Roscommon Arts Centre.

Belvedere House's Halloween week — evening openings at the lakeside estate outside Mullingar from 24 to 31 October.

Mid Ulster District Council's free family Halloween night for Cookstown, with entertainment and fireworks at the Mid Ulster Sports Arena.

The National Trust's annual autumn artisan food and craft fair in the grounds of Florence Court, run with Tully Mill.

Ireland's biggest marathon takes over the capital's streets on the October bank holiday Sunday — a great free spectacle even if you're not running.

A two-day National Hunt meeting at Wexford Racecourse over the October bank holiday weekend, closing out the track's 2026 season.

Nenagh's annual Halloween arts festival for children and young people, running through the school midterm break.

Europe's biggest Halloween festival marks its 40th year — four nights of illuminated trails, a carnival parade and fireworks in the Walled City.

Offaly's children's arts festival fills the October mid-term with shows and workshops in music, craft, art and dance across five towns.

Ireland's Halloween festival in the county where Samhain began — fire ceremonies, processions, castle projections and headline concerts across Trim and Athboy.

Westport's award-winning autumn festival of music, art, film and performance, running over the Halloween weekend.

Northern Ireland's biggest two days of horse racing — the Grade 1 Champion Chase headlines Halloween weekend at Down Royal.

Free Halloween fun and fireworks in Dungannon town centre, launched from the Hill of The O'Neill above Market Square.

Three nights of stargazing, expert talks, planetarium shows and music in the villages beside Mayo's International Dark Sky Park — celebrating its 10th year in 2026.

An evening Samhain procession through Roscommon town, celebrating the festival's origins in the nearby Rathcroghan landscape.

Cork city's Samhain night parade — a 36-foot community-built dragon leads a procession of ghouls and beasts through the Shandon streets each Halloween.

Longford town's Halloween-night parade of fire, light and Samhain mythology — the fiery centrepiece of the county's Dead of Night Halloween festival.

The festival of Irish publishing marks its 20th year with five days of author events, walking tours and a free family weekend across the city.

The feature day of the year at Clonmel Racecourse — Grade 2 National Hunt racing at Powerstown Park in early November.

Five days of concerts, masterclasses and a famous pub session trail through the medieval streets of Ennis — the 32nd edition of Clare's November trad festival.

The 22nd Polish Arts Festival — four days of Polish culture and art across Limerick city venues including the Belltable and the Hunt Museum.

The world's first economics and comedy festival — three days of economists, analysts and stand-up comedians making sense of the world in Kilkenny's venues.

Galway's annual contemporary visual arts festival returns for its 24th edition, themed 'Veruca Salt' and inspired by 50 years of punk.

Westport's big November adventure race — running, cycling and a Croagh Patrick mountain stage, with beginner and advanced courses.

Four days of free live music in Portstewart and Portrush — 30-plus gigs in bars, hotels and restaurants along the Causeway Coast.

Ireland's oldest and largest film festival returns for its 71st edition — eleven days of screenings across Cork city in November.

Storytellers from Ireland and abroad fill the Ring of Kerry village of Sneem with tales, folklore talks, music and fireside sessions.

Belfast's queer arts festival celebrates its 20th birthday with nine days of new work, commissions and performances in venues across the city.

Ireland's largest Christmas festival — markets, lights, parades and more than 60 family attractions across Waterford city on weekends from mid-November to 23 December.

Navan's flagship jumps weekend — the Troytown Chase, Fortria Chase and Lismullen Hurdle over two days in November.

The 20th edition of Waterford's film festival — a November weekend of live screenings and competitions, followed by a week of online screenings.

Winter skating on real ice in the forest at Beyond the Trees Avondale, from mid-November right through the Christmas season.

Two Grade 1 races in one November weekend — the Morgiana Hurdle and John Durkan Memorial Chase — as jump racing's winter season opens.

The Gaiety's much-loved Christmas pantomime returns for 2026 with Robin Hood, a family fixture running from November into the new year.

Limerick's festive season programme, from an outdoor ice rink at Arthur's Quay Park to a Christmas village, Santa and city-centre lights.

Cork Opera House's annual Christmas panto runs from late November to mid-January — in 2026/27 it's Beauty and the Beast.

Armagh city's festive season opener — four days of market stalls, costumed characters, light shows and Georgian-themed events in its 18th-century streets.

Open-air skating on a real ice rink on Wexford Quay, from late November right through the Christmas season to early January.

A festive Gruffalo's Child trail through Hillsborough Castle's 100-acre gardens, with Santa visits, film screenings and a decorated royal castle.

Two days of Grade 1 National Hunt racing at Fairyhouse — the Hatton's Grace Hurdle and Drinmore Novice Chase headline Ireland's biggest winter racing weekend.

Belfast's Grand Opera House stages its big family pantomime, The Little Mermaid, from late November to early January, with May McFettridge back as Dame.

The Lyric Theatre's family Christmas production for 2026 is Anne-Marie Casey's stage adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women.

Kilkenny's Christmas festival — a free-entry market on The Parade beneath the castle, Santa experiences, concerts and family events through December.

Irish National Opera brings its touring chamber production of Smetana's comic opera to VISUAL Carlow for one night.

Disney On Ice returns to Belfast's SSE Arena in December with an ice spectacular starring characters from Frozen, Moana, Encanto, Toy Story and more.

A ten-night festive staging of Disney's Frozen musical at Enniskillen's lakeside Ardhowen Theatre, with family matinees and a sensory-inclusive show.

Mullingar Arts Centre's Christmas pantomime for 2026 is Snow White, running a near month-long season from 4 to 29 December.

Roscommon town's festive weekend — a Christmas market on the Square and the Enchanted Christmas Trail of lights in Loughnaneane Park.

An interactive Santa experience for younger children in Colmanswell, west County Limerick, open on weekends in the run-up to Christmas.

The midwinter sunrise illuminates the 5,000-year-old chamber at Newgrange on the mornings of 19–23 December — chamber places are drawn by lottery, with applications closing 30 September.

Four days of top-class National Hunt racing in south Dublin between Christmas and New Year, headlined by the Grade 1 Savills Chase.

Four consecutive days of National Hunt racing at Limerick Racecourse from St Stephen's Day, headlined by the Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase.

A winter school of traditional music in the Donegal Gaeltacht between Christmas and New Year — classes by day, concerts and sessions by night.

Castlecomer's famous New Year's Day charity run — a 4km circuit tackled in wellington boots, with fancy dress, floats and a celebrity grand marshal.

Ireland's largest traditional and folk music festival — five January days of concerts in Dublin Castle, St Patrick's Cathedral and Temple Bar.

Ireland's only international marching-band championship parades through Limerick city centre each St. Patrick's weekend — free to watch.

A four-day festival of parades, free outdoor concerts and family entertainment building to the St Patrick's Day parade on 17 March 2027.

Limerick's free St. Patrick's Day parade winds through the city centre with floats, performers and family entertainment.

Northern Ireland's largest agricultural show returns for its 158th year at Balmoral Park near Lisburn, with four days of livestock, showjumping and family fun.

Ireland's largest gardening, food and family festival returns to the Phoenix Park over the June bank holiday weekend.