Upcoming Holidays and Festivals in Ireland
- Before planning a trip around a festival, verify the festival dates on the festival's website or with a local tourist information office. For more information about these and other events, visit the official tourism sites for the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
- This list includes major festivals in major cities, plus national holidays observed throughout Ireland (both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, unless otherwise noted). Many sights and banks close down on national holidays — keep it in mind when planning your itinerary. Note that this isn't a complete list; holidays can strike without warning.
- See upcoming holidays and festivals across Europe
2023
December 25: Christmas Day (closures)
December 26: St. Stephen's Day, Republic of Ireland; Boxing Day, Northern Ireland (closures)
December 31: New Year's Eve
2024
January 1: New Year's Day (closures)
January 25–29: Tradfest Temple Bar, Dublin (Irish music and culture festival)
March 17: St. Patrick's Day (parades and inebriation throughout Ireland — most notably in Dublin; closures)
March 29: Good Friday (closures)
March 31 & April 1: Easter Sunday and Monday (closures)
May 6: May Day/Labor Day; Early May Bank Holiday in Northern Ireland (closures across Ireland)
May 25–June 3: Fleadh Nua, Ennis (traditional music and dance festival)
May 27: Spring Bank Holiday, Northern Ireland (closures)
May 29–June 2: Listowel Writers' Week, County Kerry (literary festival)
June 3: June Bank Holiday, Republic of Ireland (closures)
June 16: Bloomsday, Dublin (James Joyce festival)
June 23: St. John's Eve Bonfire Night, Kilronan, Aran Islands
June 28–30 (likely): Patrún Festival, Kilronan, Aran Islands (currach boat races)
July 12: Orangemen's Day/Battle of the Boyne anniversary, Northern Ireland (Protestant marches, protests; closures)
July 15–28: Galway Arts Festival
July 29–August 4: Galway Races (horse races)
August 1–11 (likely): Féile an Phobail, West Belfast (Irish cultural festival)
August 2–5 (likely): Enniscorthy Rockin' Food & Fruit Festival, County Wexford
August 4–11: Fleadh Cheoil, Wexford (traditional-music festival)
August 5: August Bank Holiday, Republic of Ireland (closures)
August 9–11: Dingle Races (horse races)
August 10–12: Puck Fair, Killorglin, County Kerry ("Ireland's Oldest Fair" and drink-fest)
August 10–18 (likely): National Heritage Week
August 15: Kenmare Fair
August 16–20 (likely): Rose of Tralee International Festival
August 17–18 (likely): Dingle Regatta (boat races)
August 26: Summer Bank Holiday, Northern Ireland only (closures)
September 9–10: Galway Races (horse races)
September 27–29: Galway Oyster and Seafood Festival
October 4–6: Dingle Food Festival
October 10–November 3 (likely): Belfast International Arts Festival
October 24–28 (likely): Cork Guinness Jazz Festival
October 26–28: Galway Races (horse races)
October 28: October Bank Holiday, Republic of Ireland (closures)
October 31: Halloween celebrations (Europe's largest), Derry
November 10: Remembrance Sunday, Northern Ireland (two minutes of silence at 11:00 to remember WWI dead, people wear poppies on lapels)
December 25: Christmas Day (closures)
December 26: St. Stephen's Day, Republic of Ireland; Boxing Day, Northern Ireland (closures)
December 31: New Year's Eve