Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2023
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 2023
- The Ultimate Guide to Food and Drink Festivals Ireland 2023
If your festival is not featured in this guide and you’d like it to, please email edwina@thelifeofstuff.com with details.
The Ultimate Guide to Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2023
Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2023
Table of Contents
JANUARY
- Ballina 2023 | Ballina, Mayo | Jan – Dec | ballina2023.ie
- First Fortnight | Various Venues Dublin | Jan 6 – Jan 15 | firstfortnight.ie
- Out to Lunch Festival | Belfast | Jan 7 – Jan 29 | cqaf.com
- Atlantic Irish Fest | Donegal | Jan 21 – Jan 25 | findmyireland.com
- Dublin Lunar New Year | Dublin | Jan 21 – Jan 29 | dublinchinesenewyear
- Imbolc Festival Derry | Derry City | Jan 29 – Feb 5 | imbolcfestival.com
- Féile Bríde 2023 | Kildare | Jan 31 – Feb 28 | kildareheritage.com
Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2023
FEBRUARY
- Biddy’s Day | Kerry | Feb 3 – Feb 5 | facebook.com/biddysday
- Scene + Heard Festival | Dublin | Feb 9 – Feb 25 | smockalley.com/scene-heard
- Akumakon | Galway | Feb 10 – Feb 12 | akumakon.com
- NI Science Festival | Belfast | Feb 16 – Feb 25 | nisciencefestival.com
- Rathmullan Film Festival | Donegal | Feb 16 – Feb 19 | rathmullan.ie/filmfest
- Mother Tongues Festival | Dublin | Feb 16 – Feb 18 | mothertonguesfestival.com
- The Gathering Festival | Kerry | Feb 22 – Feb 26 | gleneaglehotel.com
- Dublin International Film Festival | Dublin | Feb 23 – Mar 4 | diff.ie
- Longford Lights Festival | Longford Town | Feb 24 – Feb 26 | longfordcoco.ie
Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2023
MARCH
- Seachtain na Gaeilge | Nationwide | Mar 1 – Mar 17 | peig.ie
- Ennis Book Club Festival | Clare | Mar 3 – Mar 5 | ennisbookclubfestival.com
- Roscommon Drama Festival | Roscommon | Mar 3 – 11 | roscommondramafestival
- Dublin Comic Con | Dublin | Mar 11 – Mar 12 | dublincomiccon.com
- Five Lamps Arts Festival | Dublin | Mar 13 – Apr 1 | fivelampsarts.ie
- St. Patrick’s Day Festival | Kilkenny | Mar 15 – Mar 19 | stpatricksfestivalkilkenny.com
- St. Patrick’s Day Festival | Dublin | Mar 16 – Mar 19 | stpatricksfestival.ie
- Cork International Poetry Festival | Cork City | Mar 16 – 20 | corkpoetryfest
- Ardara Walking Festival | Ardara, Donegal | Mar 17 – Mar 19 | ardara.ie
- Wander Wild Festival | Killarney | Mar 24 – Mar 26 | wanderwildfestival.com
- East Asia Film Festival | Dublin | Mar 30 – Apr 2 | eaffi.ie
- Mountains to Sea dlr Book Festival | Dublin | Mar TBC | mountainstosea
Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2023
APRIL
- Dublin One City One Book | Dublin | Apr 1 – 30 | dublinonecityonebook
- Cúirt International Festival of Literature | Galway | Apr 18 – Apr 23 | cuirt.ie
- Granard Booktown Festival | Longford | Apr 21 – Apr 23 | granardbooktownfestival
- Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival | Belfast | Apr 27 – May 7 | cqaf.com
- Dublin Smartphone Film Fest | Apr 30 – May 7 | dublinsmartphonefilmfestival
- Experience Japan Hanami Festival | Dublin | Apr 30 | experiencejapan.ie
- OFFSET | Dublin | Apr TBC | iloveoffset
Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2023
MAY
- International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival | Dublin | May 1 – 14 | gaytheatre.ie
- May the 4th Sci-Fi Film Festival | Kerry | May 4 – May 6 | filmfreeway.com
- Achill International Film Festival | Achill | May 11 – 13 | achillinternationalfilmfestival
- Dublin Dance Festival | Various Dublin | May 16 – May 28 | dublindancefestival.ie
- International Literature Festival Dublin | Dublin | May 19 – 28 | ilfdublin.com
- Boyne Valley Viking Experience | Slane | May 20 – 21 | boynevalleyevents.com
- Fastnet Film Festival | West Cork | May 24 – May 28 | fastnetfilmfestival.com
- Listowel Writers’ Week | Kerry | May 31 – Jun 4 | writersweek.ie
- Cinemagic Film Festival | Dublin | May – Jun TBC | cinemagic
- May the 4th Be With You Festival | Donegal | May TBC | maythefourthbewithyoufest
- The Kilkenny Cat Laughs | Kilkenny | May TBC
Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2023
JUNE
- Bloom | Phoenix Park, Dublin | Jun 1 – Jun 5 | bloominthepark.com
- Cork Harbour Festival | Cork | Jun 2 – Jun 11 | corkharbourfestival.com
- Ireland Bikefest Killarney | Kerry | Jun 2 – Jun 5 | irelandbikefest.com
- K-FEST Arts and Music Festival | Killorglin, Kerry | Jun 2 – Jun 5 | kfest.ie
- The Moby Dick Festival | Cork | Jun 2 – Jun 4 | Facebook/YoughalsMobyDick
- Timahoe Heritage Festival | Laois | Jun 3 – 4 | timahoeheritagefestival.com
- Carlow Arts Festival | Carlow Town | Jun 7 – Jun 11 | carlowartsfestival.com
- Cromane Seafest | Kerry | Jun 8 – Jun 10 | cromaneseafest.com
- Bloomsday Festival | Dublin | Jun 12 – Jun 18 | bloomsdayfestival.ie
- Cork Midsummer Festival | Cork | Jun 14 – Jun 25 | corkmidsummer.com
- Dalkey Book Festival | Dublin | Jun 16 – Jun 18 | dalkeybookfestival
- Dublin Pride Festival | Dublin | Jun 22 – Jun 26 | dublinpride.ie
June 2023 Continued …
- Burrishoole Loop Walks Festival | Mayo | June TBC
- Korean Film Festival | Dublin | Jun TBC | facebook.com/korembassy
- Stoneybatter Festival | Dublin | Jun TBC | stoneybatterfestival.ie
- Nenagh Castlefest | Tipperary | Jun TBC | facebook/NenaghCastlefest
- Dublin Kite Festival | North Bull Island | Jun TBC | dublinkitefestival.ie
- Skerries Midsummer Festival | Dublin | Jun TBC | fingal.ie/events
- Tallafest | Dublin | Jun TBC | tallafest.ie
- Cork Carnival of Science | Cork | Jun TBC | corkcity.ie
- Dundrum Festival | Dublin | Jun TBC | dundrumfestival.ie
- UCD Festival | Dublin | Jun TBC | festival.ucd.ie
- Seafest | Cork City | Jun TBC | seafest.ie
Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2023
JULY
- Irish Youth Dance Festival | Dún Laoghaire | Jul 1 – 2 | dublinyouthdance
- Cairde Sligo Arts Festival | Sligo Town | Jul 1 – Jul 9 | cairdefestival.com
- Clonmel Junction Arts Festival | Tipperary | Jul 1 – Jul 9 | junctionfestival.com
- The Folly | Cullohill, Laois | Jul 7 – Jul 8 | thefolly.ie
- West Cork Literary Festival | Bantry, Cork | Jul 7 – Jul 14 | westcorkmusic.ie
- Ballina Salmon Festival | Ballina, Mayo | Jul 8 – Jul 15 | ballinasalmonfestival.ie
- Earagail Arts Festival | Letterkenny, Donegal | Jul 8 – Jul 23 | www.eaf.ie
- City Spectacular Dublin | Merrion Sq | Jul 14 – 16 | facebook.com/CitySpectacular
- Galway International Arts Festival | Galway City | Jul 17 – Jul 30 | giaf.ie
- Belfast Pride Festival | Belfast | Jul 21 – Jul 30 | belfastpride.com
- Red Sails Festival | Portstewart, North Ireland | Jul 23 – Jul 29 | portstewartca.org
- Bray Air Display | Bray, Wicklow | Jul 29 – Jul 30 | brayairdisplay.com
- Mary From Dungloe Festival | Donegal | Jul 29 – Aug 7 | maryfromdungloe
- Durrow Scarecrow Festival | Laois | Jul 30 – Aug 7 | durrowscarecrowfestival
July 2023 Continued …
- Muckno Mania Festival | Castleblayney, Monaghan | Jul TBC | mucknomania
- Comeraghs Wild Festival | Waterford | Jul TBC | comeraghswild.com
- The Italian Fusion Festival | Dublin | Jul TBC | italianfusionfestival
- Dublin Maker | Dublin | Jul TBC | dublinmaker.ie
- Enniskillen International Beckett Festival | Jul TBC | artsoverborders.com
- Malahide Has It Festival | Malahide | Jul TBC | facebook.com/Malahide
- Wexford Literary Festival | Enniscorthy | Jul TBC | wexfordliteraryfestival
- PhotoIreland Festival | Various Dublin | Jul TBC | festival.photoireland.org
- Cootehill Arts Festival | Cavan | Jul TBC | facebook.com/cootehillartsfest
- The Festival of Curiosity | Dublin | Jul TBC | festivalofcuriosity.ie
- Boyle Arts Festival | Boyle, Roscommon | Jul TBC | boylearts.com
- City Spectacular | Cork | Jul TBC | facebook.com/CitySpectacular
- Féile Lughnasa | Cloghane, Kerry | Jul TBC | cflt.ie
- GAZE International LGBT Film Festival | Dublin | Jul TBC | gaze.ie
Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2023
AUGUST
- Spraoi International Street Arts Festival | Waterford | Aug 4 – Aug 6 | spraoi.com
- Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival | Offaly | Aug 4 – Aug 12 | birrvintageweek.com
- Puck Fair | Killorglin, Co. Kerry | Aug 10 – Aug 12 | puckfair.ie
- Kilkenny Arts Festival | Kilkenny | Aug 10 – Aug 20 | kilkennyarts.ie
- Waterford Walls International Street Art Festival | Aug 11 – 20 | wallsproject.ie
- West Cork History Festival | Skibbereen | Aug 11 – Aug 13 | westcorkhistoryfestival
- Dublin Comic Con | Dublin | Aug 12 – Aug 13 | dublincomiccon
- Belfast Mela | Botanic Gardens Belfast | Aug 19 – Aug 27| belfastmela
- EVA International | Limerick | Aug 31 – Oct 29 | eva.ie
- IFI Family Festival | IFI Temple Bar | Aug TBC | ifi.ie/family
- Rush Harbour Festival | Dublin | Aug TBC | rushdublin.com
- Big Barrow Splash | Kildare | Aug TBC | facebook.com/Athydragonboat
- Trim Salmon of Knowledge Festival | Meath | Aug TBC | salmonofknowledge
Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2023
SEPTEMBER
- The Bleeding Pig Cultural Festival | Dublin | Sep 7 – Sep 17 | bleedingpig.ie
- Culture Night | Various Locations | Sep 22 | culturenight.ie
- Write By The Sea Literary Festival | Wexford | Sep 22 – Sep 24 | writebythesea.ie
- Dublin Festival of History | Dublin | Sep 25 – Oct 15 | dublinfestivalofhistory
- Dublin Theatre Festival | Dublin | Sep 28 to Oct 15 | dublintheatrefestival.com
- Cape Clear Island Intl Storytelling Festival | Sep TBC | capeclearstory.com
- Athlone River Festival | Athlone | Sep TBC | athlone.ie
- Carnival of Colours | Derry / Londonderry | Sep TBC | inyourspaceni.org
- India Day | Dublin | Sep TBC | indiaday.ie
- Bounce Arts Festival | Belfast City | Sep TBC | universityofatypical.org
- The Bleeding Pig Film Festival | Dublin | Sep TBC | bleedingpigfilmfest
September 2023 Continued …
- Glenties Harvest Fair | Donegal | Sep TBC | glenties.ie
- Pitch’d Circus Arts Festival | Cork City | Sep TBC | circusfactorycork.com
- Monkstown International Puppet Festival | Dublin | Sep TBC | mipf.ie
- Lough Rynn Harvest Festival | Leitrim | Sep TBC | loughrynnfestival.ie
- IFI Documentary Festival | Dublin | Sep TBC | ifi.ie/docfest
- Small Roads Theatre Festival | Kerry | Sep TBC | facebook.com/smallroads
- Dunshaughlin Harvest Festival | Meath | Sep TBC | dunfest.com
- Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival | Clare | Sep TBC | matchmaker.com
- Dublin Fringe Festival | Dublin | Sep TBC | fringefest.com
- Ocean Film Festival | Dublin | Sep TBC | oceanfilmfestival.co.uk
Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2023
OCTOBER
- Dublin International Short Film & Music Festival | Oct 6 – Oct 8 | disfmf
- Open House Dublin | Dublin City | Oct 7 – Oct 15 | openhousedublin.com
- Offline Film Festival | Birr, Offaly | Oct 11 – Oct 15 | offlinefilmfestival.com
- Belfast Intl Arts Festival | Belfast | Oct 12 – Oct 29 | belfastinternational.com
- Kerry International Film Festival | Killarney | Oct 19 – 22 | kerryfilmfestival.com
- Bram Stoker Festival | Dublin | Oct 27 – Oct 30 | bramstokerfestival.com
- Derry Halloween | Derry / Londonderry | Oct 28 – Oct 31 | derryhalloween.com
- Westival Music & Arts Festival | Westport, Mayo | Oct TBC | westival.ie
- Cinemagic Film Festival | Belfast | Oct TBC | cinemagic
- Dromineer Nenagh Literary Festival | Tipperary | Oct TBC | dnlf.ie
October 2023 Continued …
- Open House Cork | Cork City | Oct TBC | facebook.com/openhousecork
- Red Line Book Festival | Dublin | Oct TBC | redlinefestival.ie
- Wexford Spiegeltent Festival | Wexford | Oct TBC | wexfordspiegeltent
- Eugene O’Neill Theatre Festival | Wexford | Oct TBC | eugeneoneillfestival
- Spleodar Halloween Arts Festival | Tipperary | Oct TBC | spleodar.ie
- Kilkenny Animated | Kilkenny | Oct TBC | kilkennyanimated.com
- Ballinasloe Fair & Festival | Galway | Oct TBC | ballinasloeoctoberfair.com
- IndieCork Film & Music Festival | Cork City | Oct TBC | indiecork.com
- Ballina Fringe Festival | Ballina, Mayo | Oct TBC | ballinafringefestival.ie
- Baboró Intl Arts Festival for Children | Galway | Oct TBC | baboro.ie
- Puca Festival | Athyboy, Trim, Drogheda | Oct TBC | pucafestival.com
Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2023
NOVEMBER
- Cork Film Festival | Cork City | Nov 2 – Nov 5 | corkfilmfest.org
- Kilkenomics | Kilkenny | Nov 5th – Nov 8th | kilkenomics.com
- Dublin Book Festival | Dublin | Nov 8 – Nov 12 | dublinbookfestival.com
- Improv Fest Ireland | The Teacher’s Club | Nov 15 – Nov 18 | improvfestireland.com
- Dublin Independent Film Festival | Dublin | Nov 24 | DublinIndependentFilm
- TULCA Festival of Visual Arts | Galway City | Nov TBC | tulca.ie
- Leaves Festival of Writing and Music | Laois | Nov TBC | leavesfestival.ie
- Allingham Festival | Donegal | Nov TBC | allinghamfestival.com
- Sneem Intl Storytelling & Folklore Fest | Nov TBC | sneemstorytelling
- The Jonathan Swift Festival | Dublin | Nov TBC | jonathanswiftfestival
- Armagh Georgian Festival | Armagh | Nov TBC | visitarmagh.com
- Belfast Film Festival | Belfast | Nov TBC | belfastfilmfestival.org
Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2023
DECEMBER
- Silk Road International Film Fest | Dublin | Dec TBC | silkroadfilmfestival
Further listings to be confirmed. However the month of December is mostly dedicated to Christmas Markets and Festivals. See our The Ultimate Guide to Christmas Markets in Ireland 2022 for inspiration.
PIN: The Ultimate Guide to Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2023
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