- Here are 15 major annual or recurring festivals and cultural events expected to take place in County Waterford in 2026 (dates are confirmed where available or based on established patterns; always check official sources for updates):
- West Waterford Festival of Food: A prominent community food festival in Dungarvan featuring markets, demonstrations, foraging trails, pop-up dining, and family events celebrating local producers. Scheduled for 24th–26th April 2026.
- Blackwater Valley Opera Festival: Ireland’s summer opera festival with recitals, concerts, and performances in historic venues around Lismore and the Blackwater Valley. Typically late May to early June.
- All Together Now Festival: A major independent music, arts, comedy, theatre, and wellness festival at Curraghmore Estate near Portlaw, featuring top international acts. Scheduled for 30th July–2nd August 2026.
- Spraoi International Street Arts Festival: Ireland’s premiere free street arts and spectacle festival in Waterford City with global performers, parades, music, and fireworks. Held over the August bank holiday weekend.
- Waterford Walls: Ireland’s largest street art festival transforming the city with large-scale murals by international artists, plus workshops, tours, and live music. Usually in August.
- Waterford Harvest Festival: A celebration of local food heritage with markets, tastings, demonstrations, and events across Waterford City. Typically in September.
- Vitamin Sea Festival: A seaside festival in Tramore focusing on coastal food, music, workshops, beach activities, and outdoor experiences. Usually in September.
- Imagine Arts Festival: A multidisciplinary arts festival in Waterford City showcasing theatre, music, dance, literature, visual arts, and national/international talent. Held in October.
- Waterford Writers Weekend: A literary festival with readings, workshops, discussions, and events for writers and readers of all genres. Typically in spring or autumn.
- Winterval Christmas Festival: Ireland’s largest Christmas festival in Waterford City with lights, markets, attractions, performances, and family entertainment. Runs from late November into December/January. See video here.
- Samhain Festival: A Halloween-themed celebration in Waterford City marking the ancient Irish festival with theatre, music, magic, and spooky events. Usually late October.
- Dungarvan Agricultural Show: A traditional agricultural show with livestock judging, equestrian events, crafts, and family entertainment in Dungarvan. Held in summer.
- 1848 Tricolour Celebration: A historical and cultural event commemorating the first flying of the Irish tricolour in Waterford, with parades and community activities. Typically in March.
- Séan Keane Festival or local music gatherings: Recurring traditional music events honouring local heritage, often in various towns.
- Theatre Royal and Garter Lane Arts Centre Programmes: Year-round cultural events including festivals of drama, comedy, and performing arts at key Waterford venues.
- Other notable recurring events include local community fairs, heritage days, and seasonal markets across the county.
Festivals
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Waterford:
Introduction – 1837 – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Castles – Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells –Hotels – Hotels8 – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Musicians – Name – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Saints – Spas – Sports – Sunsets – Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers
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