Ireland’s National Festival Returns to it’s Roots

St. Patrick’s Festival 2026 Celebrates Across Four Days & Nights

Ireland’s One Shared Story: A Global Celebration of Culture, Creativity and Community

Supported by Government of Ireland, Fáilte Ireland & Dublin City Council

14 – 17 March 2026

www.stpatricksfestival.ie || #spf26 || #stpatricksfestival

• The full programme for St. Patrick’s Festival 2026 is now revealed, with 4 days and nights of events taking place across Dublin from 14–17 March

• The theme for St. Patrick’s Festival 2026 is Roots, exploring identity, belonging and shared stories across generations

• Over 150 artists and 3,000 participants will take part in a vibrant city-wide programme spanning music, street theatre, dance, comedy, craft and participatory performance

 

Tuesday 3 February 2026 – Today, Tuesday 3rd February, St. Patrick’s Festival announces its highly anticipated programme, taking place across Dublin from 14–17 March. Ireland’s national festival returns to its roots in 2026, bringing together communities, artists, visitors and audiences from around the world for one of the most recognisable celebrations of culture, creativity and community.

The theme for St. Patrick’s Festival 2026 is Roots, a celebration of where we come from, what grounds us, and how we continue to grow together.

Ireland is a country deeply connected to story and tradition, where ancient myths sit alongside living culture, and seasonal rituals and everyday acts of connection are shared across communities. Ireland’s roots lie not only in history and folklore, but in the lived experiences of all those who call this island home, shaped by migration, emigration and cultural exchange across generations.

In 2026, the Festival explores roots as something living and evolving, inviting audiences to reflect on identity, belonging and shared stories, while creating space for new voices and contemporary expressions of Irish culture.

A VIBRANT CITY-WIDE PROGRAMME

St. Patrick’s Festival 2026 invites locals and visitors alike to experience a vibrant, city-wide programme featuring over 150 artists working across music, street theatre, dance, comedy, craft and participatory performance.

This year’s programme places collaboration and accessibility at its heart, with highlights ranging from marching rhythms and immersive soundscapes to wheelchair-led dance, ballet for over-55s, iconic Irish theatre, subculture storytelling, hands-on craft workshops, family hubs and neurodivergent-friendly spaces. Together, these experiences reflect Ireland’s one shared story, rooted in tradition, community and creative exchange.

THE NATIONAL ST PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

The National St. Patrick’s Day Parade returns to Dublin on Tuesday 17 March, promising an unforgettable showcase of imagination, scale and creativity.

Guided by the Festival’s core values of community, diversity, joy, prosperity and sustainability, the 2026 Parade will follow its established route from Parnell Square, expanding in ambition and interaction, delighting audiences of all ages.

The Parade will feature 12 large-scale floats from independent parade companies, with over 3,000 participants involved. Returning to the streets of Dublin are beloved pageant makers including Macnas, Bui Bolg, Spraoi, Inishowen Carnival Group, Curious State, Volkidana, The Outing Queer Arts Collective, Artastic and ArtFX, alongside exciting new entries from Lumen Street Theatre and Show CoMotion, a new Dublin-based parade company making its Festival debut.

International participation remains a hallmark of the Parade, with marching bands travelling from Scotland and the United States, including eight American bands from Ohio, Arizona, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Mississippi, Indiana and Texas, reflecting the deep cultural connections between Ireland and its global diaspora.

Under the continued artistic leadership of Artistic Director Aoife Carry, the Parade prioritises craft and design excellence, community participation, sustainability and accessibility, with a strong focus on reuse, upcycling and mindful production.

Building on its Climate Action Plan, the Festival continues to champion sustainable practices and is proud to partner with Kia as its official vehicle partner for a fifth consecutive year.

Accessibility remains central to the Festival with the return of the Relaxed Parade Space, sponsored by Dublin City Council in partnership with AsIAm, with support from Bank of Ireland, Neuroconvergence Ireland and Neurodiversity Ireland. Designed to support neurodivergent audiences and those who benefit from a more flexible environment, the space offers additional room for movement, sensory-friendly areas, limited seating options, and pre-Parade entertainment. Attendance is via lottery, with application details to be announced.

A limited number of Parade Grandstand Seats and Hospitality Packages will be available at www.stpatricksfestival.ie. For those unable to attend in person, the Parade will be broadcast live on RTÉ One and internationally via RTÉ Player.

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS ACROSS THE CITY

Across the Festival weekend, Dublin will come alive with performances and participatory experiences that grow naturally from the streets themselves, inviting people to gather, share and belong.

Audiences can enjoy music on the streets with performances from Mr Wilson’s Second Liners and Dublin favourites Acid Granny Compact; moments of Gaeilge and humour with Áine Gallagher’s A Cup of Focals; and street comedy favourites including Garda by Colm O’Grady and the mischievous St. Patrick’s Seagulls.

Dance takes centre stage with Silver Swans, ballet created exclusively for over-55s, alongside the work of dance artist and activist Maryam Madani, whose wheelchair-led practice celebrates disability pride as a joyful and community-building act. Luail, Ireland’s National Dance Company, will present Dance Corner, curated by Dylan Quinn.

Theatre lovers can enjoy a special presentation of The Abbey Theatre’s The Plough and the Stars, marking 100 years since its premiere, while hands-on workshops including lacemaking, tin smithing, willow weaving and felting offer opportunities to engage directly with traditional and contemporary craft.

Prints of Ireland is collaborating with the festival on an exclusive Prints of Ireland x St. Patrick’s Festival range, produced by artist and Prints of Ireland co-owner, Heather Gilroy which will feature a catalogue of specially designed items available via selected retailers and their website.

Events will take place across a range of iconic city locations including Wood Quay Amphitheatre, EPIC, Wolfe Tone Park, Jameson Distillery, Dundrum Town Centre and St. Stephen’s Green Bandstand.

FAMILY, COMMUNITY, AND NIGHTTIME CULTURE

St. Patrick’s Festival 2026 reflects the breadth of its audiences through a programme that spans generations, interests and identities.

By day, family-focused hubs such as the Dublin City Council Family Village at Wood Quay will offer welcoming and playful spaces featuring DJ Seanem, Ireland’s youngest festival DJ, the Dublin City Library Bus and creative experiences with Bricí Spraoi.

As evening falls, the Festival embraces Dublin’s vibrant night-time culture with standout moments including Pygmalion presenting Henrik Schwarz on 16 March and the Festival’s Fire Performances on 14 and 15 March, creating shared cultural experiences for adult audiences rooted in Ireland’s world-famous sense of craic.

Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Ray McAdam said:

“St. Patrick’s Festival is one of the great celebrations of Ireland, and Dublin is proud to be its host. The 2026 programme captures the very best of our national spirit — creativity, welcome and community — while reflecting my theme of Celebrating Dublin: the stories of our city, the strength of our neighbourhoods, and the new voices that continue to shape our capital. I’m proud that this Festival brings people together and showcases Ireland, through Dublin, to audiences at home and around the world.”

Caroline Bocquel, Chief Executive Officer, Fáilte Ireland said:

“St. Patrick’s Festival plays a vital role in showcasing Ireland on the world stage, marking the start of the tourism season and welcoming visitors to experience our culture, creativity and warm hospitality. The 2026 Festival programme celebrates Ireland’s roots through a rich blend of tradition and contemporary culture, while supporting communities, artists and the wider tourism and hospitality sectors. We look forward to welcoming visitors from near and far to Dublin this March.”

Aoife Carry, Artistic Director at St. Patrick’s Festival said:

“St. Patrick’s Festival has always been built from the ground up, shaped by the artists, makers, communities and collaborators who bring it to life each year. In 2026, we are proud to centre the Festival around the theme of Roots, celebrating where we come from, what connects us, and how we continue to grow together.

This year’s programme reflects the depth and diversity of the stories that make up Ireland today, drawing on tradition, lived experience and creative exchange, while making space for new voices and new ways of coming together.

I am deeply grateful to our funders, partners and sponsors whose continued support allows the Festival to grow thoughtfully and sustainably year on year, and I look forward to welcoming audiences from near and far to experience a St. Patrick’s Festival that is grounded, joyful and very much alive in Dublin this March.” 

Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment of Ireland said:

“St. Patrick’s Festival is a significant driver of economic activity, supporting jobs, local enterprise and the wider tourism economy. Festivals of this scale not only celebrate our culture and identity, but also deliver real benefits for local businesses, tourism and employment across Dublin and beyond.

 

The 2026 programme shines a light on the richness of our culture and the stories that bring us together, creating shared experiences for people of all ages and backgrounds.

 

By showcasing Ireland as a welcoming destination, the St. Patrick’s Festival strengthens our international reputation, and I am pleased to support a Festival that continues to attract and inspire visitors year after year.” 

St. Patrick’s Festival is made possible through the continued support of the Government of Ireland, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Fáilte Ireland, Dublin City Council, and generous partners and sponsors. With equal gratitude, RTÉ and Q102 are proud media partners of St. Patrick’s Festival 2026, supporting the festival through national and local broadcast coverage and promotion.

The Festival Programme is available now at www.stpatricksfestival.ie and will continue to be updated as further events are announced.