May Bank Holiday Events Ireland 2026 – Festivals Worth Visiting

Posted by Ewelina Wu on April 7, 2026 in Activities, Arts and Culture, Events – Ireland, Family, Inspiration, News & Offers

TL;DR

Planning something for the May Bank Holiday? Here are a few events worth knowing about 1 – 4 May 2026:

Féile na Bealtaine – Dingle, Co. Kerry
Bray International Jazz Festival – Bray, Co. Wicklow
Connemara Mountain Walking Festival – Connemara, Co. Galway
Inishbofin Arts Festival – Inishbofin, Co. Galway
Joe Heaney Festival – Carna, Co. Galway

So, What’s Actually On?

The May Bank Holiday has a habit of arriving before you’ve made any real plans. One minute it’s April, the next you’re half-committed to “doing something” with the long weekend.

To save you the usual back-and-forth, here are a few events happening across Ireland that are actually worth building a trip around. Not everything, just the ones that give you a decent excuse to get away.

If Connemara is on your radar, we’ve also just added a number of new holiday homes to our collection, including several premium options in some of the best spots.

Féile na Bealtaine – Dingle Peninsula, Co. Kerry

📅 30 April – 4 May 2026
🔗 https://feilenabealtaine.ie/

Dingle leans fully into the May Bank Holiday, and Féile na Bealtaine is at the centre of it. The whole town gets involved, with music, performances and exhibitions appearing across pubs, streets and local venues.

There’s a full programme of events, but they’re spread across the town and surrounding areas, so you can dip in and out over the weekend.

Bray International Jazz Festival – Bray, Co. Wicklow

📅 1 – 3 May 2026
🔗 https://brayjazz.com/

Marking its 25th year in 2026, the Bray International Jazz Festival brings a full weekend of live music to venues across the town.

The main concerts take place in spots like the Mermaid Arts Centre and Bray Town Hall, with headline acts including internationally recognised artists such as Fred Hersch, Roberto Fonseca and Eddie Henderson.

Beyond the ticketed shows, the festival runs a jazz trail, with free performances happening in pubs and smaller venues like the Harbour Bar and Duff’s Bar, meaning you’ll come across live music throughout the town over the weekend.

There are also additional concerts in nearby Greystones, so it’s not just contained to one spot. Overall, it’s a mix of structured gigs and more casual sessions, which makes it easy to build a weekend around without needing to plan every detail.

Connemara Mountain Walking Festival – Connemara, Co. Galway

📅 1 – 3 May 2026
🔗 https://connemaramountainwalkingfestival.com/

The Connemara Mountain Walking Festival is built around guided walks through some of the most striking parts of the region, including routes around Killary Harbour, the Maumturk Mountains and the Twelve Bens.

Walks are led by experienced local guides and range from shorter, more relaxed routes to full-day hikes, so you can choose something that suits your pace without needing to be overly ambitious.

Alongside the walks, the weekend usually includes social events and a photo competition, giving it a bit more of a festival feel rather than just a series of hikes.

Stay nearby – we have just added 15 new holiday homes, mostly premium spots!

Inishbofin Arts Festival – Inishbofin, Co. Galway

📅 1 – 3 May 2026
🔗 https://inishbofinexperiences.ie/events/inishbofin-arts-festival-2026/

The Inishbofin Arts Festival is a full weekend of music, theatre, workshops and exhibitions, all set across the island.

It usually opens with an exhibition launch and concert on Friday night, followed by a packed Saturday and Sunday programme that includes everything from weaving and drumming workshops to theatre performances, spoken word and live music.

What sets it apart is the setting. Everything happens across small venues and local spaces on the island, so you’re moving between events at your own pace rather than following a fixed schedule.

It’s a mix of organised events and a more relaxed atmosphere, with enough going on to fill the weekend without it feeling overdone.

Joe Heaney Festival (Sean-nós Singing) – Carna, Co. Galway

📅 1 – 4 May 2026
🔗 https://www.connemaraireland.com/events/joe-heaney-festival/
🔗https://www.facebook.com/feilejoeeinniu/

Held in Carna, this festival celebrates the tradition of sean-nós singing, with a weekend of recitals, workshops, talks and informal sessions across the area.

Named after the renowned singer Joe Heaney, the programme brings together both established performers and newer voices, with events taking place in local venues and pubs throughout the weekend.

It’s a more traditional, low-key event, but one that draws people back year after year, especially those with an interest in Irish language and music.

The May Bank Holiday doesn’t need a packed plan. One good event, a decent place to stay, and you’re most of the way there. After that, it’s just a matter of seeing where the weekend goes.

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