Image Credit: Rí Ra – The Fabulous Tale of BasarKus (translation from French), by French company called Compagnie Lamento
Wexford County Council are showcasing twelve arts festivals / events throughout the county which celebrate the best of arts and culture from an Irish and European perspective, coinciding with Ireland’s Presidency of the EU from July – December 2026.
Theses festivals cover a wide variety of art forms, ranging from circus, street arts to community opera, dance, live music, literature, theatre and spoken word. They will take place throughout the county in both urban and rural contexts.
Cuirfidh Comhairle Contae Loch Garman dhá fhéile / imeacht déag ealaíne ar taispeáint ar fud an chontae lena ndéanfar ceiliúradh ar an gcuid is fearr d'ealaíon agus de chultúr ó pheirspictíocht Éireannach agus Eorpach, go comhuaineach le hUachtaránacht na hÉireann ar an Aontas Eorpach ó Iúil – Nollaig 2026.
Leis na féilte seo clúdófar éagsúlacht mhór foirmeacha ealaíne, amhail siorcas, ealaíona sráide, ceoldráma pobail, damhsa, ceol beo, litríocht, amharclannaíocht agus an focal labhartha. Beidh siad ar siúl ar fud an chontae i gcomhthéacsanna uirbeacha agus tuaithe araon.
Festivals in Wexford 2026
Ri Ra children’s Festival
Wexford Opera House – The Fabulous Tale of BasarKus (translation from French), by French company called Compagnie Lamento – 2 shows on 25th July 2026
Website links and social media details:
@rirachildrensfestival @doulab.circus.dance
New Ross Guitar Festival
Performances in Killesk Church, Duncannon by Polish Classical Guitarist and French Guitarist/Composer: Mathias Duplessy On the 16th-19th July
Website links and social media details:
www.NewRossGuitarFestival.ie www.instagrame.com/Guitarfestnewross www.facebook.com/newrossguitarfestival
So, Say So
2 spoken word events curated by Stephen James Smith with invited spoken word 30th July - Performers: Helen of Troj (word artist from Germany) & Aidan Murphy / Thunderclap Murphy (live ambient music).
28th August - Performers: Maras Mathias / Maras Poésie (slam and freestyle rap champion from France) & Aidan Murphy / Thunderclap Murphy
Website links and social media details:
https://thunderclapmurphy.com/events/live-ambient-performance-at-so-say-so/
Cuisle Cheoil – 20-23 August 2026
Gorey Little Theatre and various locations in Gorey District, traditional Irish music festival with, song & dance to showcase to local and wider European community from 20th to 23 August with a selection of Irish traditional musicians, singers and céukí performers, including fiddle, flute accordion, banjo and bouzouki players
Website links and social media details:
Cuisle Cheoil Weekend https://www.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=61590348807681
The Night Belongs to Youth Festival 2026 – 18 September 2026
St. Johns Amphitheatre, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, Irish-language musical performance and drumming by local young people to local and international audience. Creative Places Enniscorthy in partnership with Music Generation Wexford on 18th September 2026 to coincide with Culture Night
Website links and social media details
www.creativeplacesenniscorthy.ie @musicgenerationwexford
Write by the Sea Literary Festival Kilmore 25- 27 September 2026
Various venues in Kilmore Quay. 2 talks focusing on language and the art of translation, with Sheila Armstong, Acclaimed Irish novelist (Falling Animals, The Red Mouth), Laetitia Devaux, distinguished French literary translator, Éilís Ní Dhuibhne, renowned bilingual author and the Laureate for Irish Fiction (2025–2028), and Theo Dorgan – Celebrated Irish poet, writer, and Aosdána member whose work includes translating into the Irish language.
Website links and social media details: www.writebythesea.ie, https://www.facebook.com/writebytheseaKQ, https://www.instagram.com/writebytheseakq/
Still, life… by Ailís Ní Ríain - Wexford Opera festival -15, 20, 23, 25, 28 & 30 October 2026
A new Wexford Festival Opera Commission with composer in residence Ailis Ni Riain combining opera, video, imagery and text and involving opera professionals as well as a cast form the local community. Since 2023 the community opera is a growing element if the festival shining a spotlight on talented people form Wexfrod. This new community opera will premiers on an international stage, with European and Local audiences, in the offsite GrainStore building in Wexford town
Website links and social media details:
https://www.instagram.com/wexfordfestive
https://www.facebook.com/WexfordFestivalOpera
Eugene O Neill Festival – 17 October 2026
A celebratory collaboration featuring Irish, Spanish, and Georgian traditional musicians, creating a unique multi layered fusion i.e. Zoë Conway – Acclaimed Irish fiddle player and singer, John McIntyre – Accomplished Irish guitarist also featured collaborators & guest musicians, Mark Redmond – Renowned Irish Uilleann piper, Alberto Moreno – Spanish flamenco guitarist and singer, Kavkasioni – Georgian traditional folk music group, Danescastle Music Group – Local Irish traditional ensemble featuring musicians aged 15 and over.
Taking place October 17th in St. Michael’s Theatre.
Website links and social media details:www.eugeneoneillfestival.com https://eugeneoneillfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/A-music-Evening.png-768x1152.webp www.eugeneoneillfestival.com
The Stone Sessions - SpringMoves Dance Festival - 25 Oct & 31 Oct 2026
Sunday 25 October 6.30–7.15pm – Johnstown Castle
Directed and choreographed by Vivian Brodie Hayes, The Session features performer collaborators: dancers Lucia Kickham and Kelly Keesing, musician Blanca Altable, and storyteller Joe Brennan
Johnstown Castle Ballroom
A lively dance, music and storytelling performance directed by Vivian Brodie Hayes, featuring Joe Brennan, Blanca Altable, Lucia Kickham and Kelly Keesing.
Saturday 31st Oct 12-1pm Wexford Arts Centre
Short Days Session is an intimate dance, live music and storytelling performance.
Two dancers, a musician and a storyteller invite you into a world where movement, music and stories pass between people and across generations - exploring memory, connection and a long-lived life.
https://www.wexfordartscentre.ie/
Shared Connections Across Europe - 29 October & 10 December
Since the late 1990s, folklorist and artist Michael Fortune has been recording the stories, voices, and lived traditions of people who have made their homes in Ireland, documenting narratives from across mainland Europe, from Poland to Slovakia, and from France to Spain. 2 x Talks exploring
The Irish Hallowe'en Experience: Shared Connections Across Europe
7pm, Thursday 29 October 2026 (Wexford town library) and
An exploration of Irish Hallowe'en customs, beliefs and traditions, and their often-overlooked connections with communities across Europe.
The Irish Christmas Season: Shared Connections Across Europe
7pm, Thursday 10 December 2026
Gorey Library, Gorey
An exploration of the customs, beliefs and traditions of the Irish Christmas season and their shared connections with communities across Europe.
The North Wexford Traditional Singing Féile Concert – 13 November 2026
Christ Church Gorey, Five Traditional Singers / with Harp and Uilleann Pipes showcased to local and wider European community on 13th November 2026. Further details will be announced.
Website links and social media details:
www.northwexfordtraditionalsingingcircle.ie
Rathaspeck Church Music Concert – 7 December 2026
(Winter Lights of Rathaspeck) a collaborative mix of Irish and European traditional choir vocalists. The group will perform regional European winter, advent, and Christmas choral music specifically arranged to take advantage of the church's restored acoustics on the 7th December.
Website links and social media details: www.rathaspeckcchurch.ie