Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2023
Updated May 2023 (First Published January 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
- MU Arts and Minds Festival | Maynooth Uni | Apr 3 – 6 | maynoothuniversity.ie
- 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
- May the 4th Be With You Festival | Donegal | May 4th | maythefourthbewithyoufest
- 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
- Africa Day | Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin | May 21 | africaday.ie
- Fastnet Film Festival | West Cork | May 24 – May 28 | fastnetfilmfestival.com
- Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival | Antrim | May 26 – June 4 | rathlinsoundmaritimefestival.com
- Gamerfest | Dublin | May 27 – May 28 | gamerfest.ie
- Wexford Pride | Wexford Town | May 27 | facebook.com/WexfordPride
- Listowel Writers’ Week | Kerry | May 31 – Jun 4 | writersweek.ie
- Cinemagic Film Festival | Dublin | May – Jun TBC | cinemagic
Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2023
JUNE
- Bloom | Phoenix Park, Dublin | Jun 1 – Jun 5 | bloominthepark.com
- Cinemagic Film Festival | Dublin | Jun – Oct | cinemagic
- 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
- The Kilkenny Cat Laughs | Kilkenny | Jun 2 – Jun 4 | thecatlaughs.com
- 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
- Cork Carnival of Science | Cork | Jun 10 – Jun 1 | corkcity.ie
- UCD Festival | Dublin | Jun 10 | festival.ucd.ie
- 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
- Stoneybatter Festival | Dublin | Jun 16 – Jun 18 | stoneybatterfestival.ie
- Dundrum Festival | Dublin | Jun 18 – 25 | dundrumfestival.ie
- Dublin Pride Festival | Dublin | Jun 22 – Jun 26 | dublinpride.ie
- Nenagh Castlefest | Tipperary | Jun 24 – 25 | facebook/NenaghCastlefest
- PhotoIreland Festival | Various Dublin | Jun 30 – Jul 23 | festival.photoireland.org
June 2023 Continued …
- Burrishoole Loop Walks Festival | Mayo | June TBC
- Korean Film Festival | Dublin | Jun TBC | facebook.com/korembassy
- 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
- Seafest | Cork City | Jun TBC | seafest.ie
Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2023
JULY
- Irish Youth Dance Festival | Dún Laoghaire | Jul 1 – 2 | dublinyouthdance
- Carnival of Colours | Derry / Londonderry | Jul 1 & 2 | inyourspaceni.org
- Cairde Sligo Arts Festival | Sligo Town | Jul 1 – Jul 9 | cairdefestival.com
- Clonmel Junction Arts Festival | Tipperary | Jul 1 – Jul 9 | junctionfestival.com
- Carlow Pride Festival | Carlow Town | Jul 2 | facebook.com/carlowpridefest
- Stendhal Festival | Limavady, Derry | Jul 6 – Jul 8 | stendhalfestival.com
- Comeraghs Wild Festival | Waterford | Jul 6 – 9 | comeraghswild.com
- The Folly | Cullohill, Laois | Jul 7 – Jul 8 | thefolly.ie
- West Cork Literary Festival | Bantry, Cork | Jul 7 – Jul 14 | westcorkmusic.ie
- Limerick Pride | Limerick City | Jul 8 | limerickpride.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
- Boyle Arts Festival | Boyle, Roscommon | Jul 20 – 29 | boylearts.com
- Belfast Pride Festival | Belfast | Jul 21 – Jul 30 | belfastpride.com
- Drogheda Pride | Drogheda Town | Jul 21 – Jul 23 | facebook.com/DroghedaPride
- 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
- Cork Pride Festival | Cork City | Jul 20 – Aug 6 | corkpride.com
July 2023 Continued …
- Muckno Mania Festival | Castleblayney, Monaghan | Jul TBC | mucknomania
- The Italian Fusion Festival | Dublin | Jul TBC | italianfusionfestival
- Enniskillen International Beckett Festival | Jul TBC | artsoverborders.com
- Malahide Has It Festival | Malahide | Jul TBC | facebook.com/Malahide
- Wexford Literary Festival | Enniscorthy | Jul TBC | wexfordliteraryartsfestival.com
- The Festival of Curiosity | Dublin | Jul TBC | festivalofcuriosity.ie
- City Spectacular | Cork | Jul TBC | facebook.com/CitySpectacular
- Féile Lughnasa | Cloghane, Kerry | Jul TBC | cflt.ie
Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2023
AUGUST
- GAZE International LGBT Film Festival | Dublin | Aug 3 – 7 | gaze.ie
- Spraoi International Street Arts Festival | Waterford | Aug 4 – Aug 6 | spraoi.com
- Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival | Offaly | Aug 4 – Aug 12 | birrvintageweek.com
- Heart of Glens Festival | Cushendall, Antrim | Aug 5 – Aug 13 | visitcausewaycoastandglens.com
- Rush Harbour Festival | Dublin | Aug 5 – 7 | artisanevents.ie
- Big Barrow Splash | Athy, Kildare | Aug 6 | facebook.com/Athydragonboat
- Galway Pride Festival | Galway City | Aug 7 – Aug 13 | galwaypride.ie
- Puck Fair | Killorglin, Co. Kerry | Aug 10 – Aug 12 | puckfair.ie
- India Day | Dublin | Aug 13 | indiaday.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
- Twin Trees Festival | Heywood Laois | Aug 17 – 20 | twintrees.ie
- Waterford Pride | Waterford City | Aug 18 – Aug 20 | facebook.com/waterfordprideofficial
- IFI Family Festival | IFI Temple Bar | Aug 18 – 20 | ifi.ie/family
- Belfast Mela | Botanic Gardens Belfast | Aug 19 – Aug 27| belfastmela
- EVA International | Limerick | Aug 31 – Oct 29 | eva.ie
- Trim Salmon of Knowledge Festival | Meath | Aug TBC
Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2023
SEPTEMBER
- Cape Clear Island Intl Storytelling Festival | Sep 1 – Sep 3 | capeclearstory.com
- Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival | Clare | Sep 1 – 30 | matchmaker.com
- Dublin Maker | Dublin | Sep 2 | dublinmaker.ie
- Lough Rynn Harvest Festival | Leitrim | Sep 3 | loughrynnfestival.ie
- The Bleeding Pig Cultural Festival | Dublin | Sep 7 – Sep 17 | bleedingpig.ie
- Glenties Harvest Fair | Donegal | Sep 7 – 12 | glenties.ie
- Cootehill Arts Festival | Cavan | Sep 8 – 10 | facebook.com/cootehillartsfest
- Dublin Fringe Festival | Dublin | Sep 9 – 24 | fringefest.com
- Pitch’d Circus Arts Festival | Cork City | Sep 11 – 24 | circusfactorycork.com
- The Bleeding Pig Film Festival | Dublin | Sep 12 – 13 | bleedingpigfilmfest
- Culture Night | Various Locations | Sep 22 | culturenight.ie
- Write By The Sea Literary Festival | Wexford | Sep 22 – Sep 24 | writebythesea.ie
- Dunshaughlin Harvest Festival | Meath | Sep 22 – 24 | dunfest.com
- Athy Sign & Sign ASL Festival | Kildare | Sep 23 | athysingandsign.com
- Dublin Festival of History | Dublin | Sep 25 – Oct 15 | dublinfestivalofhistory
- Dublin Theatre Festival | Dublin | Sep 28 to Oct 15 | dublintheatrefestival.com
- IFI Documentary Festival | Dublin | Sep 27 – Oct 1 | ifi.ie/docfest
- Kilkenny Animated | Kilkenny | Sep 29 – Oct 1 | kilkennyanimated.com
September 2023 Continued …
- Athlone River Festival | Athlone | Sep TBC
- Bounce Arts Festival | Belfast City | Sep TBC
- Monkstown International Puppet Festival | Dublin | Sep TBC | mipf.ie
- Small Roads Theatre Festival | Kerry | Sep TBC | facebook.com/smallroads
- Ocean Film Festival | Dublin | Sep TBC | oceanfilmfestival.co.uk
Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2023
OCTOBER
- Ballinasloe Fair & Festival | Galway | Oct 1 – 7 | galwaytourism.ie
- Dromineer Nenagh Literary Festival | Tipperary | Oct 5 – 8 | dnlf.ie
- 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
- Baboró Intl Arts Festival for Children | Galway | Oct 13 – 22 | baboro.ie
- Red Line Book Festival | Dublin | Oct 16 – 22 | redlinefestival.ie
- Kerry International Film Festival | Killarney | Oct 19 – 22 | kerryfilmfestival.com
- Wexford Spiegeltent Festival | Wexford | Oct 20 – Nov 5 | wexfordspiegeltent
- Westival Music & Arts Festival | Westport, Mayo | Oct 25 – 30 | westival.ie
- Bram Stoker Festival | Dublin | Oct 27 – Oct 30 | bramstokerfestival.com
- Spleodar Halloween Arts Festival | Tipperary | Oct 27 – 31 | spleodar.ie
- Puca Festival | Athyboy, Trim, Drogheda | Oct 27 -31 | pucafestival.com
- Derry Halloween | Derry / Londonderry | Oct 28 – Oct 31 | derryhalloween.com
October 2023 Continued …
- Open House Cork | Cork City | Oct TBC | facebook.com/openhousecork
- Eugene O’Neill Theatre Festival | Wexford | Oct TBC | eugeneoneillfestival
- Ballina Fringe Festival | Ballina, Mayo | Oct TBC | ballinafringefestival.ie
Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2023
NOVEMBER
- Cork Film Festival | Cork City | Nov 2 – Nov 5 | corkfilmfest.org
- Belfast Film Festival | Belfast | Nov 2 – 11 | belfastfilmfestival.org
- TULCA Festival of Visual Arts | Galway City | Nov 3 – 19 | tulca.ie
- Kilkenomics | Kilkenny | Nov 5 – Nov 8 | kilkenomics.com
- Dublin Book Festival | Dublin | Nov 8 – Nov 12 | dublinbookfestival.com
- Allingham Festival | Donegal | Nov 8 – 12 | allinghamfestival.com
- Sneem Intl Storytelling & Folklore Fest | Nov 10 – 12 | sneemstorytelling
- Silk Road International Film Fest | Dublin | Nov 13 – 24 | silkroadfilmfestival.com
- Improv Fest Ireland | The Teacher’s Club | Nov 15 – Nov 18 | improvfestireland.com
- Armagh Georgian Festival | Armagh | Nov 23 – 26 | visitarmagh.com
- Dublin Independent Film Festival | Dublin | Nov 24 | DublinIndependentFilm
- Leaves Festival of Writing and Music | Laois | Nov TBC | leavesfestival.ie
- The Jonathan Swift Festival | Dublin | Nov TBC | jonathanswiftfestival
Art and Culture Festivals Ireland 2023
DECEMBER
- IndieCork Film & Music Festival | Cork City | Dec 10 – 17 | indiecork.com
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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