Kinsale Trad Fest returns for its second year over the May Bank Holiday Weekend 2026. Building on the success and atmosphere of its inaugural festival, with an even richer celebration of Irish music, dance and culture in one of Ireland’s most distinctive coastal towns. Across the weekend, Kinsale will come alive with headline performances, intimate trad sessions, street music, workshops, exhibitions and late-night festival moments that invite visitors to experience the town in a unique and memorable way. At the heart of the programme is The Main Event on Sunday 31st May — a specially curated concert that brings together exceptional artists and performers within a festival weekend.

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Tickets for The Main Event are now live, offering audiences the opportunity to experience one of the festival’s standout evenings in an intimate live setting at The White Lady, with doors opening at 8:00pm. This specially curated concert features an exciting line-up including Barry Tierney, Máire Ní Churraoin, Jennifer Leahy, Unity Irish Dance and The Rising, bringing together contemporary and traditional performance in a concert created exclusively for Kinsale Trad Fest 2026. Set against the atmosphere of the May Bank Holiday weekend, The Main Event promises a memorable evening of music, song and dance, and early booking is strongly advised following the strong response to last year’s festival.