Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2024
(UPDATED APRIL 2024, FIRST PUBLISHED JANUARY 2024)
What does Art and Culture mean for you? Art, drama, music or dance? Food, rituals, customs or language? It can mean all of these. And the Island of Ireland is first class when it comes to celebrating through art and culture festivals. Listed below, month by month, you’ll find art and culture festivals that range from celebrating Ireland’s local heritage to exploring cultures from further afield.
And because we at The Life of Stuff love and celebrate culture so well, you’ll find both music and food culture each have their very own guides!
- The Ultimate Guide to Music Festivals in Ireland 2024
- The Ultimate Guide to Food and Drink Festivals Ireland 2024
The Ultimate Guide to Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2024
Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2024
Table of Contents
JANUARY
- First Fortnight | Various Venues Dublin | Jan 5 – Jan 14 | firstfortnight.ie
- Out to Lunch Festival | Belfast | Jan 6 – Jan 28 | cqaf.com
- Féile Bríde 1500 | Kildare | Jan 8 – Feb 27 | brigid1500.ie
- Atlantic Irish Fest | Donegal | Jan 20 – Jan 24 | findmyireland.com
- Biddy’s Day | Kerry | Jan 27 – Feb 3 | facebook.com/biddysday
- Imbolc Festival Derry | Derry City | Jan 28 – Feb 4 | imbolcfestival.com
Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2024
FEBRUARY
- Dublin Lunar New Year | Dublin | Feb 3 – Feb 11 | dublinchinesenewyear
- Akumakon | Galway | Feb 9 – Feb 11 | akumakon.com
- Scene + Heard Festival | Dublin | Feb 15 – Mar 2 | smockalley.com
- NI Science Festival | Belfast | Feb 15 – Feb 25 | nisciencefestival.com
- Rathmullan Film Festival | Donegal | Feb 15 – Feb 18 | rathmullan.ie/filmfest
- Mother Tongues Festival | Dublin | Feb 16 – Feb 17 | mothertonguesfestival.com
- Dublin International Film Festival | Dublin | Feb 22 – Mar 2 | diff.ie
- Longford Lights Festival | Longford Town | Feb 23 – Feb 25 | longfordcoco.ie
- The Gathering Festival | Kerry | Feb 28 – Mar 3 | gleneaglehotel.com
Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2024
MARCH
- Seachtain na Gaeilge | Nationwide | Mar 1 – Mar 17 | peig.ie
- Féile an Earraigh | Belfast | Mar 1 – Mar 17 | visitbelfast.com
- Ennis Book Club Festival | Clare | Mar 1 – Mar 3 | ennisbookclubfestival.com
- Roscommon Drama Festival | Roscommon | Mar 1 – 9 | roscommondramafestival
- St. Patrick’s Day Festival | Dublin | Mar 6 – Mar 23 | stpatricksfestival.ie
- East Asia Film Festival | Dublin | Mar 7 – Mar 10 | eaffi.ie
- Dublin Comic Con | Dublin | Mar 9 & Mar 10 | dublincomiccon.com
- St. Patrick’s Day Festival | Kilkenny | Mar 15 – 18 | stpatricksfestivalkilkenny.com
- Ardara Walking Festival | Ardara, Donegal | Mar 15 – Mar 18 | ardara.ie
- Causeway Coast Walking Festival | Mar 15 – 17 | visitcausewaycoastandglens
- Wander Wild Festival | Killarney | Mar 22 – Mar 24 | wanderwildfestival.com
- Dublin Smartphone Film Fest | Mar 30 | dublinsmartphonefilmfestival
- Mountains to Sea dlr Book Festival | Dublin | TBC | mountainstosea
Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2024
APRIL
- Dublin One City One Book | Dublin | Apr 1 – 30 | dublinonecityonebook.ie
- Five Lamps Arts Festival | Dublin | Apr 11 – 20 | fivelampsarts.ie
- Granard Booktown Festival | Longford | Apr 19 – 21 | granardbooktownfestival
- Festival of Gardens & Nature | Laois | Apr 20 – 21 | festivalofgardensandnature
- Cúirt International Festival of Literature | Galway | Apr 23 – Apr 28 | cuirt.ie
- Experience Japan Hanami Festival | Dublin | Apr 28 | experiencejapan.ie
Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2024
MAY
- Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival | Belfast | May 2 – 12 | cqaf.com
- May the 4th Sci-Fi Film Festival | Kerry | May 3 – May 5 | filmfreeway.com
- May the 4th Be With You Fest | Donegal | May 3 – 5 | maythefourthbewithyou
- Festival of Fools | Belfast | May 4 – May 6 | foolsfestival.com
- International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival | Dublin | May 6 – 19 | gaytheatre.ie
- MU Arts and Minds Festival | Maynooth Uni | May 9 – 11 | maynoothuniversity.ie
- Achill International Film Fest | Achill | May 9 – 11 | achillinternationalfilmfestival
- Dublin Dance Festival | Various Dublin | May 14 – May 26 | dublindancefestival.ie
- Cork International Poetry Festival | Cork City | May 15 – 18 | corkpoetryfest
- International Literature Festival Dublin | Dublin | May 17 – 26 | ilfdublin.com
- Boyne Valley Viking Experience | Slane | May 18 – 19 | boynevalleyevents.com
- Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival | Antrim | May 18 – 26 | rathlinsoundmaritime
- Fastnet Film Festival | West Cork | May 22 – May 26 | fastnetfilmfestival.com
- Africa Day | Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin | May 25 | africaday.ie
- Wexford Pride | Wexford Town | May 25 | facebook.com
- Gamerfest | Dublin | May 25 – May 26 | gamerfest.ie
- Listowel Writers’ Week | Kerry | May 29 – Jun 2 | writersweek.ie
- Bloom | Phoenix Park, Dublin | May 30 – Jun 3 | bloominthepark.com
- The Kilkenny Cat Laughs | Kilkenny | May 30 – Jun 3 | thecatlaughs.com
- Ireland Bikefest Killarney | Kerry | May 31 – Jun 2 | irelandbikefest.com
- K-FEST Arts and Music Festival | Killorglin, Kerry | May 31 – Jun 3 | kfest.ie
Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2024
JUNE
- Cinemagic Film Festival | Dublin | Jun – Oct | cinemagic
- The Moby Dick Festival | Cork | Jun 1 | Facebook.com
- Cork Harbour Festival | Cork | Jun 1 – Jun 10 | corkharbourfestival.com
- Timahoe Heritage Festival | Laois | Jun 1 & 2 | timahoeheritagefestival.com
- Mount Shannon Arts Festival | Clare | Jun 1 – 3 | mountshannonarts.ie
- Carlow Arts Festival | Carlow Town | Jun 5 – 9 | carlowartsfestival.com
- Festival of Writing & Ideas | Carlow | Jun 7 – 9 | festivalofwritingandideas.com
- UCD Festival | Dublin | Jun 8 | festival.ucd.ie
- Cork Carnival of Science | Cork | Jun 10 – 11 | corkcity.ie
- Bloomsday Festival | Dublin | Jun 11 – Jun 16 | bloomsdayfestival.ie
- Cromane Seafest | Kerry | Jun 13 – Jun 15 | cromaneseafest.com
- Cork Midsummer Festival | Cork | Jun 13 – Jun 23 | corkmidsummer.com
- Dalkey Book Festival | Dublin | Jun 13 – Jun 16 | dalkeybookfestival
June 2024 Continued ..
- Stoneybatter Festival | Dublin | Jun 16 – 18 | stoneybatterfestival.ie
- Dundrum Festival | Dublin | Jun 23 – 30 | dundrumfestival.ie
- Dublin Pride Festival | Dublin | Jun 28 – Jun 30 | dublinpride.ie
- Clonmel Junction Arts Festival | Tipperary | Jun 28 – Jul 7 | junctionfestival.com
- Irish Youth Dance Festival | Dún Laoghaire | Jun 30 – Jul 5 | dublinyouthdance
- Nenagh Castlefest | Tipperary | Jun TBC | facebook/NenaghCastlefest
Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2024
JULY
- PhotoIreland Festival | Various Dublin | Jul 1 – 31 | festival.photoireland.org
- Stendhal Festival | Limavady, Derry | Jul 4 – Jul 6 | stendhalfestival.com
- The Folly | Cullohill, Laois | Jul 5 – Jul 6 | thefolly.ie
- Cairde Sligo Arts Festival | Sligo Town | Jul 6 – Jul 14 | cairdefestival.com
- Ballina Salmon Festival | Ballina, Mayo | Jul 7 – Jul 14 | ballinasalmonfestival.ie
- Comeraghs Wild Festival | Waterford | Jul 11 – 14 | comeraghswild.com
- Lady of the Lake Festival | Fermanagh | Jul 11 – Jul 21 | fermanaghlakelands.com
- West Cork Literary Festival | Bantry, Cork | Jul 12 – Jul 19 | westcorkmusic.ie
- Limerick Pride | Limerick City | Jul 13 | limerickpride.ie
- Earagail Arts Festival | Letterkenny, Donegal | Jul 13 – Jul 28 | www.eaf.ie
- Carlow Pride Festival | Carlow Town | Jul 14 | carlowpridefest.ie
- Galway International Arts Festival | Galway City | Jul 15 – Jul 28 | giaf.ie
- Drogheda Pride | Drogheda Town | Jul 18 | facebook.com
- Boyle Arts Festival | Boyle, Roscommon | Jul 18 – 27 | boylearts.com
- Belfast Pride Festival | Belfast | Jul 19 – Jul 28 | belfastpride.com
- Féile Lughnasa | Cloghane, Kerry | Jul 27 – Jul 28 | cflt.ie
- Mayo International Kite Festival | Achill | Jul 28 | mayokitefest.com
- Mary From Dungloe Festival | Donegal | Jul 28 – Aug 5 | maryfromdungloe
- Durrow Scarecrow Festival | Laois | Jul 28 – Aug 5 | durrowscarecrowfestival
July 2024 Continued …
- Carnival of Colours | Derry / Londonderry | Jul TBC | inyourspaceni.org
- Red Sails Festival | Portstewart, North Ireland | Jul TBC | portstewartca.org
- Muckno Mania Festival | Castleblayney, Monaghan | Jul TBC | mucknomania
- Enniskillen International Beckett Festival | Jul TBC | artsoverborders.com
- Wexford Literary Festival | Enniscorthy | Jul TBC | wexfordliteraryartsfestival
- The Festival of Curiosity | Dublin | Jul TBC | festivalofcuriosity.ie
- Soma Festival | Castlewellan, Down | Jul TBC | facebook.com
Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2024
AUGUST
- GAZE International LGBT Film Festival | Dublin | Aug 1 – 5 | gaze.ie
- Féile An Phobail | Belfast | Aug 1 – Aug 11 | feilebelfast.com
- Newport Grainne Uaile Festival | Mayo | Aug 2 – 4 | newportgrainneuailefestival
- Spraoi International Street Arts Festival | Waterford | Aug 2 – 4 | spraoi.com
- Viking River Festival | Athlone | Aug 2 – Aug 5 | athlone.ie
- Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival | Offaly | Aug 2 – Aug 10 | birrvintageweek
- Bray Air Display | Bray, Wicklow | Aug 3 | brayairdisplay.com
- Heart of Glens Festival | Antrim | Aug 3 – Aug 11 | visitcausewaycoastandglens
- Cork Pride Festival | Cork City | Aug 5 | corkpride.com
- West Cork History Festival | Skibbereen | Aug 9 – 11 | westcorkhistoryfestival
- Puck Fair | Killorglin, Co. Kerry | Aug 10 – Aug 12 | puckfair.ie
- Kilkenny Arts Festival | Kilkenny | Aug 10 – 20 | kilkennyarts.ie
- Belfast Mela | Botanic Gardens Belfast | Aug 17 – Aug 24 | belfastmela
- Twin Trees Festival | Heywood Laois | Aug 22 – 25 | twintrees.ie
- Dublin Comic Con | Dublin | Aug 24 – 25 | dublincomiccon
- Cape Clear Island Intl Storytelling Festival | Aug 30 – Sep 1 | capeclearstory.com
- Open House Festival | Bangor, Down | Aug TBC | openhousefestival.com
- Trim Salmon of Knowledge Festival | Meath | Aug TBC | facebook.com
- Féile Derry | Derry | Aug TBC | feilederry.com
- Wake the Giant Festival | Warrenpoint, Down | Aug TBC | visitmournemountains
- Rush Harbour Festival | Dublin | Aug TBC | artisanevents.ie
- Big Barrow Splash | Athy, Kildare | Aug TBC | facebook.com/Athydragonboat
- Galway Pride Festival | Galway City | Aug TBC | galwaypride.ie
- India Day | Dublin | Aug TBC | indiaday.ie
- Waterford Walls International Street Art Festival | Aug TBC | wallsproject.ie
- Waterford Pride | Waterford City | Aug TBC | facebook.com
- IFI Family Festival | IFI Temple Bar | Aug TBC | ifi.ie/family
Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2024
SEPTEMBER
- Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival | Clare | Sep 1 – 30 | matchmaker.com
- Dublin Fringe Festival | Dublin | Sep 9 – 22 | fringefest.com
- Pitch’d Circus Arts Festival | Cork City | Sep 11 – 24 | circusfactorycork.com
- The Bleeding Pig Cultural Festival | Dublin | Sep 12 – Sep 21 | bleedingpig.ie
- National Ploughing Championships | Laois | Sep 17 – 19 | npa.ie
- Culture Night | Various Locations | Sep 20 | culturenight.ie
- Write By The Sea Literary Festival | Wexford | Sep 27 – 29 | writebythesea.ie
- Dublin Festival of History | Dublin | Sep 27 – Oct 13 | dublinfestivalofhistory
- Dunshaughlin Harvest Festival | Meath | Sep 27 – 29 | dunfest.com
September 2024 Continued …
- Bounce Arts Festival | Belfast City | Sep TBC | universityofatypical.org
- Monkstown International Puppet Festival | Dublin | Sep TBC | mipf.ie
- Wee Binnian Walking Festival | Mourne Walk | Sep TBC | weebinnians.com
- Belfast Maritime Festival | Belfast | Sep TBC | belfastmaritimefestival
- Dublin Maker | Dublin | Sep TBC | dublinmaker.ie
- Lough Rynn Harvest Festival | Leitrim | Sep TBC | loughrynnfestival.ie
- Glenties Harvest Fair | Donegal | Sep TBC | glenties.ie
- Cootehill Arts Festival | Cavan | Sep TBC | facebook.com/cootehillartsfest
- The Bleeding Pig Film Festival | Dublin | Sep TBC | bleedingpigfilmfest
- Athy Sign & Sign ASL Festival | Kildare | Sep TBC | athysingandsign.com
- Dublin Theatre Festival | Dublin | Sep TBC | dublintheatrefestival.com
- IFI Documentary Festival | Dublin | Sep TBC | ifi.ie/docfest
Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2024
OCTOBER
- Dublin International Short Film & Music Festival | Oct 4 – Oct 6 | disfmf
- Kilkenny Animated | Kilkenny | Oct 4 – 6 | kilkennyanimated.com
- Ballinasloe Fair & Festival | Galway | Oct 6 – 12 | galwaytourism.ie
- Offline Film Festival | Birr, Offaly | Oct 9 – Oct 13 | offlinefilmfestival.com
- Baboró Intl Arts Festival for Children | Galway | Oct 11 – 19 | baboro.ie
- Dromineer Nenagh Literary Festival | Tipperary | Oct 11 – 13 | dnlf.ie
- Open House Dublin | Dublin City | Oct 12 – Oct 20 | openhousedublin.com
- Belfast Intl Arts Festival | Belfast | Oct 16 – Nov 2 | belfastinternational.com
- Kerry International Film Festival | Killarney | Oct 17 – 20 | kerryfilmfestival.com
- Bram Stoker Festival | Dublin | Oct 25 – Oct 28 | bramstokerfestival.com
- Derry Halloween | Derry / Londonderry | Oct 28 – Oct 31 | derryhalloween.com
- Puca Festival | Athyboy, Trim, Drogheda | Oct 31 – Nov 3 | pucafestival.com
October 2023 Continued …
- Red Line Book Festival | Dublin | Oct TBC| redlinefestival.ie
- Wexford Spiegeltent Festival | Wexford | Oct TBC | wexfordspiegeltent
- Westival Music & Arts Festival | Westport, Mayo | Oct TBC | westival.ie
- Spleodar Halloween Arts Festival | Tipperary | Oct TBC | spleodar.ie
- Eugene O’Neill Theatre Festival | Wexford | Oct TBC | eugeneoneillfestival
- Ballina Fringe Festival | Ballina, Mayo | Oct TBC | ballinafringefestival.ie
- The Italian Fusion Festival | Dublin | Oct TBC | italianfusionfestival
Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2024
NOVEMBER
- Dublin Book Festival | Dublin | Nov 6 – Nov 10 | dublinbookfestival.com
- Allingham Festival | Donegal | Nov 6 – 10 | allinghamfestival.com
- Kilkenomics | Kilkenny | Nov 7 – Nov 10 | kilkenomics.com
- Cork Film Festival | Cork City | Nov 7 – Nov 17 | corkfilmfest.org
- Dublin Independent Film Festival | Dublin | Nov 8 | DublinIndependentFilm
- Silk Road International Film Fest | Dublin | Nov 11 – 15 | silkroadfilmfestival.com
- Improv Fest Ireland | The Teacher’s Club | Nov 13 – 16 | improvfestireland.com
- Armagh Georgian Festival | Armagh | Nov 28 – Dec 1 | visitarmagh.com
- Belfast Film Festival | Belfast | Nov TBC | belfastfilmfestival.org
- TULCA Festival of Visual Arts | Galway City | Nov TBC | tulca.ie
- Sneem Intl Storytelling & Folklore Fest | Nov TBC | sneemstorytelling
- Leaves Festival of Writing and Music | Laois | Nov TBC | leavesfestival.ie
- The Jonathan Swift Festival | Dublin | Nov TBC | jonathanswiftfestival
Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2024
DECEMBER
- IndieCork Film & Music Festival | Cork City | Dec 6 – 13 | indiecork.com
Note: Further listings to be confirmed for December’s ‘Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2024’ listings. However the month of December is mostly dedicated to Christmas Markets and Festivals. See our The Ultimate Guide to Christmas Markets in Ireland 2023 for inspiration.
If your festival is not featured in this ‘The Ultimate Guide to Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2024’ guide and you’d like it to, please email edwina@thelifeofstuff.com with details.
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