Irish festivals international students should know about in 2026
Source: https://www.ucd.ie/global/international-blog/2026/irish-festivals-in-2026/ Parent: https://www.ucd.ie/global/
Wednesday, 11 February, 2026
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Post by Sophie Bonheim. Photo Credit: Sophie Popplewell on Unsplash.
Every year, Ireland hosts thousands of curious and lively festivals that take place across the island. Attending one is a fantastic opportunity to take a deep dive into Irish culture, as well as an unforgettable way to spend your time in Ireland when you’re not in lectures or studying at the library.
We’ve put together a list of our favourite festivals that we think international students at UCD will love. While many of the festivals listed below are based in Dublin, we’ve also included festivals from outside Dublin that are easily accessible by public transport.
Dublin International Film Festival
Are you a movie fan or just tired of scrolling through Netflix looking for your next binge-watch?The Dublin International Film Festival (DIFF) is perfect for anyone who loves movies, storytelling or just a great night out in Dublin.
Taking over select Dublin cinemas, the festival showcases a mix of Irish and international films, from big premieres to indie shorts. Film buffs will adore this one!
Date: 19 February - 1 March 2026
Location: Dublin
Find out more information on the Dublin International Film Festival website.
St Patrick’s Day Festival
You’ve most likely heard of St Patrick’s Day, and for good reason. Named after Ireland’s patron saint, St Patrick, it is by far the biggest festival in Ireland. It is celebrated nationwide with parades, live music and street performances.
The largest and most impressive parade takes place in Dublin city centre on the 17th of March each year, but there are also smaller and quirkier celebrations happening across the country that you can find on the official St Patrick’s Festival website.
If you’re not into the jostling that comes with big crowds, the Dublin parade is televised on Ireland’s national broadcaster, RTÉ. Attending a smaller festival in towns or villages across the country is another great way to soak up the spirit of the day without the crowds of Dublin city centre.
Date: 14 - 17 March 2026
Location: Nationwide
Find out more information on the St Patrick’s Day Festival website.
Did you know Dracula was written by an Irishman? Bram Stoker was born and raised in Dublin and worked as a civil servant in Dublin Castle. That connection makes the Bram Stoker Festival a particularly special festival for anyone with a love of Gothic or vampiric literature.
WellFest
True to its name, WellFest is a health and wellness festival celebrating its 10th year in 2026. It's a welcome break from the many music-only lineups, although it still offers all the best parts of a festival, but without the late nights and loud crowds.
Set in the stunning grounds of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, it brings together fitness classes, yoga sessions, talks, live music and plenty of healthy food options. Whether you’re into workouts, mindfulness or just want to hang out with friends in a relaxed outdoor setting, WellFest is a feel-good festival that will leave you feeling energised for the rest of the day.
Date: 9 - 10 May 2026
Location: Dublin
Find out more information on the WellFest website.
The Cat Laughs Comedy Festival
If you’re itching to get out of the city, keen to explore more of what Ireland has to offer or love a proper belly laugh, The Cat Laughs Comedy Festival might just be the festival for you.
Internationally acclaimed, it’s a brilliant festival to enjoy some of Ireland’s most beloved comedians in the medieval city of Kilkenny. You’re guaranteed to pick up a few Irishisms along the way, and the atmosphere is guaranteed to be mighty (as we say in Ireland)!
Date: 29 May - 1 June 2026
Location: Kilkenny
Find out more information on The Cat Laughs Comedy Festival website.
Bloom Festival
Bloom Festival is an annual celebration of gardening, food and sustainable living hosted in Europe’s largest urban park, the Phoenix Park.
The festival is best known for its show-stopping garden competition, where visitors can meander through actual gardens that entrants build in the run-up to the competition. However, you don’t need to be an avid gardener to enjoy Bloom Festival, with amazing food stalls, hands-on workshops and inspiring talks – it’s as much about soaking up the atmosphere as it is about the greenery.
Date: 28 May - 1 June 2026
Location: Dublin
Find out more information on the Bloom Festival website.
Bloomsday (James Joyce) Festival
Photo credit: Vincent Hoban.
Truly a unique festival experience, Bloomsday Festival is held in honour of James Joyce’s novel Ulysses. Joyce is one of Ireland’s most influential writers, and Ulysses is widely considered one of the most important works of modern 20th-century English literature.
The festival features a citywide programme of guided tours, readings, film screenings, performances and reenactments that bring Leopold Bloom’s (the book’s main character) Dublin to life. Expect to see people dressed in early 20th-century costume, quoting passages from the book in every corner of the city.
Date: 11 - 16 June 2026
Location: Dublin
Find out more information on the Ireland.com website.
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann
For the first time in the festival’s history, the Fleadh, as it’s commonly known, will take place in Northern Ireland. It will be hosted in the city of Belfast, which is easily reached by train from Dublin. The festival brings together the very best of Irish traditional music, song and dance.
Please note: Northern Ireland is a separate territory from the Republic of Ireland, and for some nationalities, an additional visa may be required.
Date:2 - 9 August 2026
Location:Belfast
Find out more information on the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann website.
Dublin Fringe Festival
If you’re into the avant-garde and experimental theatre, the Dublin Fringe Festival is the place to be.
Taking place every September, it showcases theatre, comedy, dance and performance art from emerging Irish and international artists in venues all across the city. It’s a great festival if you’re up for trying something a little different and a great way to experience the creative scene in Dublin. A must for UCD drama students and culture vultures alike!
Date: 5 - 20 September 2026
Location: Dublin
Find out more information on the Dublin Fringe Festival website.
National Ploughing Championships
The National Ploughing Championships is one of Ireland’s most unusual festivals, and its location changes every year. In 2026, it will take place in Screggan in Tullamore, Co. Offaly. As the name suggests, the heart of the event is the ploughing competitions, where competitors are judged on how precisely they can plough a section of land. Yes, for real.
However, alongside this, there are food stalls and retail stands that draw a huge crowd from all over the country. It’s usually mucky but hugely popular, and Ag-Science students in particular are sure to get a real kick out of this event. Be sure to pack your wellington boots!
Date: 15 - 17 September 2026
Location: Offaly
Find out more information on the National Ploughing Championships website.
Open House Dublin
Architecture students, prepare to meet your new favourite festival. Once a year, some of Dublin’s most striking architectural and historically significant buildings open their doors to the public. And here’s the best part: it’s totally free.
From Houses of Parliament to Georgian manors and tenement flats to dockland warehouses, the festival offers a unique opportunity to explore the city from the inside out.
Date: 10 - 18 October
Location: Dublin
Find out more information on the Open House Dublin website.
Bram Stoker Festival
Did you know Dracula was written by an Irishman? Bram Stoker was born and raised in Dublin and worked as a civil servant in Dublin Castle. That connection makes the Bram Stoker Festival a particularly special festival for anyone with a love of Gothic or vampiric literature.
The festival’s programme ranges from the innovative to the blood-curdling. Many of the events happen after sunset when Dublin’s historic buildings cast long shadows, and the city leans fully into its darker, macabre side.
Date: Late October
Location: Dublin
Find out more information on the Bram Stoker Festival website.
Púca Festival
What better place to be on Halloween night than the country where it all began? The ancient Irish pagan festival of Samhain marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter, when the boundary between the living and the dead was believed to be at its thinnest. This tradition lives on through the Púca Festival, a modern celebration rooted in Irish folklore and myth.
Named after “an púca” in Gaelige, a mischievous spirit or ghost from Irish mythology, the festival blends music, storytelling and fire displays that celebrate the pagan roots of Halloween. Think less cheap costumes and more ghoulish myth and ghostly lore.
Date: 29 October - 1 November
Location: Meath and Louth
Find out more information on the Púca Festival website.
Dublin Christmas Markets
Not traditionally known for its Christmas markets, Dublin has embraced the European trend of ginger spice and all things nice, with quite a few festive markets appearing in the run-up to Christmas. Rather than one permanent market, these tend to be pop-up events in different locations across the city.
If you’re in Dublin at Christmas, they’re a lovely way to soak up some seasonal charm, wander with a hot drink and see the city lit up with Christmas lights and festive fun.
Date: Late November to December
Location:Dublin
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