- Dublin City Council Liffey Festival takes place 12-13 September 2026
- Free family-friendly event runs from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM daily
- Features tall ships including Pelican of London and Gunilla
- 106th Liffey Swim takes place on Saturday
- Grand Flotilla finale on Sunday afternoon
The inaugural Dublin City Council Liffey Festival is taking place this weekend on Saturday 12 September and Sunday 13 September 2026. The free family-friendly event runs from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM daily, transforming the Dublin Docklands into a waterside celebration spanning Custom House Quay, George’s Dock and Sir John Rogerson’s Quay. The festival features a mix of historic maritime features and on-water spectacles.
Visitors can board and explore iconic ships free of charge at Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, including the Class A tall ship Pelican of London, the Swedish-flagged trainee vessel Gunilla and the Revenue Commissioners’ new hybrid-powered customs cutter RCC Cosaint. The 106th Liffey Swim takes place on Saturday, with swimmers racing through the city centre and finishing at the steps of Custom House Quay. Visitors can book discounted opportunities to try hydrobikes, katakanus and traditional currachs courtesy of HQ2O Watersports, alongside paddle sports hosted by Canoeing Ireland.
The River Liffey will host aerial performances and high-speed jetpack displays. On board the Pelican of London, the Pirate Queen Cabaret circus adventure is scheduled for 2:45 PM on Saturday and 2:00 PM on Sunday. The quays will feature a heritage and storytelling stage called Live at the Liffey, live music, fairground attractions, street theatre and local food stalls. On Sunday afternoon, a parade of local boats, rowing clubs and community vessels will cruise from Custom House Quay toward Dublin Port, accompanied by a live performance from the Glasshouse Ensemble.
