Ireland's events & festivals

The dates worth planning a trip around: the anchor festivals, races and gatherings of the Irish year, with their 2027 dates checked against the organisers on 20 October 2026. Where an organiser has not published 2027 dates yet, the card says so.

TradFest

20–24 Jan 2027 · Temple Bar, Dublin · Music

Five January days of traditional music in Temple Bar's pubs, churches and historic venues: Ireland's biggest trad festival, and the warmest possible start to a year of Irish music.

Official site · Plan around it

St Patrick's Festival

13–17 Mar 2027 · Dublin (and parades nationwide) · Festivals

The national festival: five days around 17 March, with the great parade through Dublin city centre at its heart, and a parade in nearly every town in Ireland besides.

Official site · Plan around it

Bloomsday Festival

16 Jun 2027 (dates to be confirmed) · Dublin · Arts & Culture

One day, one novel: every 16 June, Dublin walks in Leopold Bloom's footsteps, with readings, Joycean breakfasts, Edwardian dress, and the city Joyce made immortal.

Bloomsday itself is always 16 June; the festival-week programme is announced nearer the time.

Official site · Plan around it

Galway International Arts Festival

12–25 Jul 2027 · Galway City · Arts & Culture

The festival's 50th edition: two weeks of theatre, music, visual art and street spectacle that take over Galway every July.

Official site · Plan around it

Galway Races Summer Festival

26 Jul – 1 Aug 2027 · Ballybrit, Galway · Sport

Seven days of summer racing at Ballybrit: the Galway Plate and the Galway Hurdle, famous crowds, and the whole city in festival mode around it.

Official site · Plan around it

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann

1–8 Aug 2027 · Belfast · Music

The world's largest celebration of Irish traditional music returns to Belfast for a second year. Competitions by day, and a session in every pub by night.

Official site · Plan around it

Dublin Horse Show

4–8 Aug 2027 · RDS, Dublin · Sport

Five days of show jumping at the RDS: the Nations' Cup and the Puissance, at Dublin's oldest summer fixture.

Official site · Plan around it

Kilkenny Arts Festival

6–15 Aug 2027 (dates to be confirmed) · Kilkenny City · Arts & Culture

Ten August days of music, theatre and visual art in Kilkenny's medieval streets, churches and castle grounds.

2027 dates are announced nearer the time; the festival usually runs for ten days from the August bank-holiday weekend.

Official site · Plan around it

Electric Picnic

27–29 Aug 2027 · Stradbally, Co. Laois · Music

Ireland's biggest music and arts weekend, in the parkland of Stradbally Hall.

Tickets for 2027 have already sold out. Use the festival's official site for resale and information, and be wary of unofficial sellers.

Official site · Plan around it: County Laois

Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival

1–30 Sep 2027 · Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare · Festivals

A whole month of music, dancing and matchmaking in the Clare spa town: the famous festival that has paired people off since the days of the harvest fairs.

Official site · Plan around it: County Clare

The Ryder Cup 2027

13–19 Sep 2027 · Adare Manor, Co. Limerick · Sport

The biggest sporting event in Ireland in 2027: the Ryder Cup at Adare Manor. The week's play runs 13–19 September, with the matches themselves on 17–19 September.

Ticketing is handled through the official Ryder Cup site only.

Official site · Plan around it

National Ploughing Championships

21–23 Sep 2027 · Rathangan, Co. Kildare · Festivals

Europe's largest outdoor event: three days of ploughing championships, machinery, livestock and trade. In 2027 it moves a week later than usual to avoid clashing with the Ryder Cup.

Official site · Plan around it: County Kildare

Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival

24–26 Sep 2027 (dates to be confirmed) · Galway City · Festivals

The world's oldest oyster festival opens the native oyster season: the World Oyster Opening Championships, a seafood trail through the city's restaurants, and a great deal of stout.

The 2027 dates shown are the festival's usual last-weekend-of-September timing, to be confirmed by the organisers.

Official site · Plan around it

Wexford Festival Opera

14–30 Oct 2027 · Wexford Town · Arts & Culture

Seventeen days of rare and rediscovered opera in the National Opera House on Wexford's quays. The 2027 programme was announced in October 2026.

Official site · Plan around it

Guinness Cork Jazz Festival

21–25 Oct 2027 (dates to be confirmed) · Cork City · Music

The October bank-holiday weekend fills Cork's pubs, clubs and concert halls with jazz, the city at its most musical.

Exact 2027 dates are confirmed nearer the time; the festival always centres on the October bank-holiday weekend.

Official site · Plan around it

Live listings

Concerts, comedy, theatre and sport across Ireland over the next 60 days appear here from Ticketmaster's Ireland listings when the feed is connected; the anchor festivals above are the dates worth planning around either way. Always confirm details and prices on the official event page before travelling.