Summer Events in Ireland: July & August 2026
Summer Events in Ireland:
July & August 2026
TL;DR
Pack the sunglasses and the rain jacket. This guide covers confirmed July and August 2026 events across Kerry, Clare, Wicklow, Waterford, Wexford, Tipperary, Galway and Cork, with dates, event links and nearby places to stay.
Summer Events in Ireland: July & August 2026
Summer in Ireland has its own logic. You pack sunglasses, a rain jacket, and unreasonable optimism. Then, somehow, it works.
July and August are made for getting away for a few days, especially when there is something good happening nearby. Here is a simple guide to confirmed summer events, with dates, locations, event links, and places to stay within easy reach.
Kerry
Dingle Races
Horse and pony racing at Ballintaggart over three days, with Dingle doing a very poor job of keeping things low-key. Just as race weekend should be.
Date: 7 to 9 August 2026
Location: Ballintaggart, Dingle, Co. Kerry
Event link: https://dingleraces.ie/
Puck Fair
A Kerry tradition where the goat is king and nobody questions it. Expect street entertainment, music and three lively days in Killorglin.
Date: 10 to 12 August 2026
Location: Killorglin, Co. Kerry
Event link: https://puckfair.ie/home/
Rose of Tralee International Festival
Think Eurovision, but for Irish heritage, local pride and community spirit, with women from Irish communities around the world representing their local areas in the famous Rose of Tralee selection.
Date: 14 to 18 August 2026
Location: Tralee, Co. Kerry
Event link: https://roseoftralee.ie/
Clare
Willie Clancy Summer School
A week of traditional Irish music and set dancing, with classes by day and concerts, céilithe and pub sessions by night.
Date: 4 to 12 July 2026
Location: Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare
Event link: https://www.scoilsamhraidhwillieclancy.com/
Wicklow
Kaleidoscope Festival
A family-friendly festival at Russborough House, with music, workshops and activities for all ages. A good one for keeping the whole gang busy.
Date: 3 to 5 July 2026
Location: Russborough House, Blessington, Co. Wicklow
Event link: https://www.kaleidoscopefestival.ie/
Bray Air Display
One of Wicklow’s biggest free summer days out, with aircraft displays over Bray Seafront and plenty of reason to look up.
Date: 1 August 2026
Location: Bray Seafront, Co. Wicklow
Event link: https://brayairdisplay.com/
Waterford
All Together Now
A major music and arts festival at Curraghmore Estate, with big names, late nights and a setting that knows how to make an entrance.
Date: 30 July to 2 August 2026
Location: Curraghmore Estate, Co. Waterford
Event link: https://www.alltogethernow.ie/
Summer in the City
Outdoor music, street performances and family events across Waterford City at weekends. A good excuse to turn a quick city visit into a proper summer break.
Date: Weekends from June to August 2026
Location: Waterford City, Co. Waterford
Event link: https://www.discoverireland.ie/waterford/summer-in-the-city-waterford-2026
Wexford
Art in the Open
Date: 25 July to 3 August 2026
Location: Wexford Town and countywide locations, Co. Wexford
Event link: https://www.artintheopen.org/
A plein air painting festival for artists, art lovers and anyone who enjoys seeing Wexford look even more pleased with itself.
Live at the Breakwater
Outdoor gigs on Wexford’s waterfront, because live music always sounds better when the sea is doing backing vocals.
Date: 7 to 16 August 2026
Location: Wexford Town, Co. Wexford
Event link: https://liveatthebreakwater.ie/
Tipperary
Clonmel Junction Arts Festival
Theatre, music, comedy and street performance across Clonmel, with enough variety to make a quick visit turn into a full evening.
Date: 3 to 12 July 2026
Location: Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
Event link: https://junctionfestival.com/
Clonmel Busking Festival
Live music and street performance around Clonmel, with the town turning into one big stage for the weekend.
Date: 7 to 9 August 2026
Location: Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
Event link: https://tipperary.com/event/clonmel-busking-festival/
Galway
Galway Film Fleadh
Irish and international films, industry events and plenty for cinema fans who like a good story before it hits the mainstream.
Date: 7 to 12 July 2026
Location: Galway City, Co. Galway
Event link: https://www.galwayfilmfleadh.com/
Galway International Arts Festival
A major Galway festival with theatre, music, visual art and big outdoor moments across the city. Plan lightly, because Galway will absolutely tempt you into staying out longer than intended.
Date: 13 to 26 July 2026
Location: Galway City, Co. Galway
Event link: https://www.giaf.ie/
Galway Races Summer Festival
Seven days of racing at Ballybrit, with Ladies Day, race-week style and Galway pretending this level of busyness is perfectly normal.
Date: 27 July to 2 August 2026
Location: Ballybrit Racecourse, Galway City, Co. Galway
Event link: https://galwayraces.com/summer-festival/
Galway Pride
A week of Pride events, performances and community celebrations, bringing plenty of colour to Galway City.
Date: 2 to 8 August 2026
Location: Galway City, Co. Galway
Event link: https://www.discoverireland.ie/galway/galway-pride-2026
Cork
West Cork Chamber Music Festival
A week of chamber music concerts in Bantry, with world-class musicians and Bantry Bay quietly stealing part of the show.
Date: 26 June to 5 July 2026
Location: Bantry, Co. Cork
Event link: https://www.westcorkmusic.ie/chamber-music-festival/
West Cork Literary Festival
A week for readers, writers and people who brought one holiday book and immediately needed three more.
Date: 10 to 17 July 2026
Location: Bantry, Co. Cork
Event link: https://www.westcorkmusic.ie/literary-festival/
Cork Ska & Reggae Festival
Brass, basslines and positive vibrations across Cork City, bringing serious summer energy to the July calendar.
Date: 23 to 26 July 2026
Location: Cork City, Co. Cork
Event link: https://www.purecork.ie/whats-on/11198268/cork-ska-reggae-festival
Cork on a Fork Festival
A food festival for anyone who believes “we’ll just have a small bite” is a statement best ignored.
Date: 12 to 16 August 2026
Location: Cork City, Co. Cork
Event link: https://www.corkcity.ie/en/cork-on-a-fork-fest/
Plan Your Summer Stay
Summer events have a habit of making a few days away feel like a much better idea than staying at home and “seeing how the weather goes”. Pick a county, check what is on nearby, and give yourself a proper Irish summer break with space to relax before and after the main event. Browse self-catering holiday homes with Trident Holiday Homes and plan your stay around the dates that suit you.
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