A Year of Festivals

While everything else may be slowly waking up after the winter, Kilkenny is already getting things started with a bang! We kickstart a year of celebrations with the sister festivals of St. Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny and Kilkenny Tradfest. The streets come alive over 4 days to celebrate Ireland’s national holiday – St. Patrick’s Day (March 17th) – with the parade, funfair and tons of traditional Irish music.

As well as that, UPMC Nowlan Park opens its gates for the season where thousands of fans cheering on their home teams in Ireland’s national sports as the Gaelic Games season begins. If you have never witnessed a game of hurling before, a trip to Nowlan Park is a must!

Summer certainly has some of the busier months in Kilkenny’s social calendar with something on pretty much every weekend.

Smithwick’s Kilkenny Roots Festival gets the ball rolling over the May bank holiday weekend, boasting an incredible line-up of international musicians from a variety of genres including folk, bluegrass, swing and rockabilly. Then, Kilkenny Cat Laughs comedy festival keeps the party going over the June bank holiday weekend, bringing some of the biggest names and freshest faces in comedy to venues throughout the county. This year, not only are there even more venues – including in Graiguenamanagh for the first time – but MAYhem gets the laughs going ahead of the big weekend with a comedy gig every day in May!

July sees the return of the hugely popular open-air concerts at the wonderful Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre. This beautiful venue nestled in a former quarry is the place to be for outdoor gigs in the summer. It hosts some of the biggest names in Irish music – Lyra, The Stunning and The Saw Doctors have all played here. Keep your eyes peeled for their highly-anticipated 2026 lineup! Or if country music is more your thing, head to Gowran Park for the Irish Country Music Festival. The country music scene in Ireland is huge, and this festival celebrates the best in Irish country music with performances from Derek Ryan, Gerry Guthrie and Stacey Breen at this year’s concert.

August is for the arts in Kilkenny. Kilkenny Arts Festival runs for 10 days from the August bank holiday with fringe events through the Alternative Kilkenny Arts Festival. The county explodes with events ranging from street theatre, dance and opera to open-air concerts, craft workshops, exhibitions and film screenings throughout the county. It is a visual feast that is not to be missed!

As if that wasn’t enough to keep you busy during August, the Town of Books Festival takes place in Graiguenamanagh – celebrating reading and literature. Bookworms will fall in love with this festival that holds author events, book sales and more in the beautiful setting along the River Barrow. And one more for your calendar this month! The Iverk Show celebrates 200 years in 2026 and is one of Ireland’s longest-running agricultural shows. It stretches back generations and is always a fun family day out with food, music and competitions.

The festival scene does not slow down by any means as we move into autumn in Kilkenny. On the contrary – we celebrate our harvest season and spooky roots! Here in Kilkenny, Halloween is more than just a day – it is a month-long celebration up until the 31st of October.

Halloween traces its roots back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain and Kilkenny was named one of Ireland’s Home of Halloween destinations due to its tales of witchcraft and gory medieval stories. The Home of Halloween festival has a packed and varied programme of events throughout October that have something for everyone. Family-friendly events include The Witches & Wizards Pumpkin Festival, those looking to mark the harvest will enjoy the mouthwatering Savour Kilkenny food festival and there are plenty of scares for those who brave the haunted cobbled alleyways of our medieval city.

Tricks and treats aside, there are so many other events coming your way during the autumn. Kilkenny Law Festival is one of Kilkenny’s newest festivals that discusses law and justice through insightful panels. Guests at this year’s festival include barristers from home and abroad as well as crime writer Nicola Tallant, Kneecap manager Daniel Lambert and comedian Colm O’Regan. Kilkenny Animated is a festival that showcases the craft of animation brought to you by Oscar-nominated studio Cartoon Saloon based right here in Kilkenny. Listen to mainstage discussions with the biggest names in animation or improve your skills at workshops led by the experts.

You might think things slow down during the winter—but think again.

There is even more arts and debates in November. Cinephiles, mark your calendars for the Subtitle European Film Festival. Attended by celebrated actors and directors from across Europe (including our own Oscar award-winning Cillian Murphy), the festival holds exclusive film screenings culminating with the much-anticipated Angela Awards hosted by Pauline McGlynn that has presented awards to film stars such as Nikolaj Coster Waldau and Carice van Houten. Ever heard of a festival that has both comedians and economic experts on the same panel? No, you wouldn’t have unless you’ve already been to Kilkenomics – the world’s first comedy and economics festival. Its discussions make topics on the global economy both accessible and entertaining. You may learn a thing or two and have a laugh while doing so!

Yulefest Kilkenny transforms Kilkenny into a winter wonderland during December. Step into the Christmas spirit with a magical programme the whole family can enjoy. Marvel as the city lights up in a dazzling switch-on, wander through the festive Christmas market filled with seasonal treats, and then cosy up at winter concerts featuring all your favourite classics. With events running right up to Christmas Eve, you’ll leave Kilkenny jingling all the way home, full of warm and wonderful memories.