The August Bank Holiday weekend in Ireland runs from Friday, 31 July to Monday, 3 August 2026, offering a massive selection of major national festivals, street carnivals, traditional music events, and family days out across the country.
- Spraoi International Street Arts Festival (Waterford): Runs from 31 July to 2 August 2026. The streets of Waterford City transform into an open-air stage for a massive free street carnival featuring international performers, live music, a spectacular parade, and fireworks.
- The Galway Races Summer Festival (Galway): Finishes its iconic week-long run over the bank holiday weekend, concluding on Sunday, 2 August 2026. The weekend features high-energy racing crowds, standout fashion, and the colourful Mad Hatter’s Family Fun Day on Sunday.
- Féile an Phobail (Belfast): Running from 25 July to 9 August 2026, this massive community arts festival features over 700 events across 80 venues in Belfast, celebrating Irish cultural heritage, music, comedy, and street performance.
- Ballygar Carnival (Galway): Ireland’s longest-running family festival celebrates its 82nd year, featuring a multi-day lineup that includes Murray’s Funfair, a street market, dog shows, costume contests, and parades over the weekend, wrapping up on Monday night, 3 August 2026.
- Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann (Belfast): The world’s largest celebration of traditional Irish music kicks off its major week-long event in Belfast on Sunday, 2 August 2026, bringing a flurry of competitions, lively sessions, and concerts.
Music & Heritage Festivals
- Ballyshannon Folk & Traditional Music Festival (Donegal): Runs from 31 July to 2 August 2026. This historic festival celebrates its 49th year with indoor headliners like Johnny Gallagher and Frontier, alongside free street entertainment and lively pub sessions.
- Stradbally National Steam Rally (Laois): Takes place from 1 August to 3 August 2026 at Stradbally Hall. It features a magnificent showcase of vintage steam-powered machinery, cultural heritage displays, and the iconic Stradbally Woodland Railway steam train rides.
- Walshestown Field Fest (Louth): A lively music festival on Sunday, 2 August 2026, raising funds for the local football club with a stellar folk lineup including All Folk’d Up and The Byrne Brothers.
- Killykeen Ambient Music Festival (Cavan): Held on Bank Holiday Monday, 3 August 2026, in the scenic Killykeen Forest Park, featuring ambient outdoor performances from emerging Irish acts like Indigos Ego and WinterKing.
- Swinford Siamsa Sráide Street & Arts Festival (Mayo): A traditional street and arts festival bringing open-air performances, pageantry, and community arts to Swinford starting Saturday, 1 August 2026.
Family Days Out & Unique Parties
- Dublin Zoo Rainforest Takeover (Dublin): From 1 August to 3 August 2026, Dublin Zoo hosts a special themed bank holiday weekend featuring interactive family activities, extra entertainment, and immersive animal experiences.
- Bray Seafront Fireworks Display (Wicklow): A massive high-octane pyrotechnics show taking place on Monday, 3 August 2026, on the Bray seafront. Festivities kick off from 8:00 PM with live radio broadcasts and music before the massive fireworks display.
- Lilliepalooza “Tequila & Tentacles” Boat Party (Sligo): A unique, festive daytime cruise on Lough Gill aboard the Rose of Innisfree on Sunday, 2 August 2026, featuring DJ sets, themed cocktails, and party games.
Ireland’s Festivals
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
