St. Patrick’s Festival 2026 Appoints Vogue Williams as National Parade Grand Marshal

As part of St. Patrick’s Festival, 14-17 March 2026, broadcaster, author and proud Irishwoman Vogue Williams is announced as the Grand Marshal for the 2026 National St. Patrick’s Day Parade. 

One of Ireland’s most recognisable media personalities, Vogue Williams will serve as Grand Marshal for the National Parade through the heart of Dublin on St. Patrick’s Day, Tuesday 17 March, as Ireland’s national festival returns to its roots with a celebration of culture, creativity and community across four days and nights.

Born in Dublin, Vogue Williams has built a dynamic career across broadcasting, fashion and entrepreneurship, becoming a familiar face to audiences in Ireland and beyond. Known for her warmth, authenticity and strong connection to home, Vogue has consistently championed Irish creativity and storytelling on a global stage, while maintaining close ties to her roots. The 2026 Festival theme, Roots, explores identity, belonging and shared stories across generations, celebrating where we come from, what grounds us and how we continue to grow together as a community.

Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Ray McAdam, said: The National St. Patrick’s Day Parade is one of the most important moments in Dublin’s cultural calendar — a day when our capital city opens its arms to the world and proudly celebrates who we are. As Lord Mayor, I am delighted to announce Vogue Williams as Grand Marshal for 2026. Vogue represents a modern Ireland — confident, creative and outward-looking — while remaining deeply connected to home. She embodies the energy and ambition of a global Ireland, and her journey reflects the lived experience of so many of our people at home and abroad. As we celebrate Roots and Ireland’s one shared story, I know she will lead this year’s Parade with warmth, pride and a great sense of occasion.

Speaking about the announcement, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke T.D. said:

“I am pleased to see the announcement of this year’s Grand Marshal which will help build further excitement and anticipation for St. Patrick’s Festival Dublin 2026. Festivals and events play a critical role in providing excellent visitor experiences, and St. Patrick’s Festival in particular offers a significant opportunity to showcase Ireland on the world stage. The festival is iconic to Ireland and marks the beginning of the traditional tourism season, when we welcome visitors from near and far 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, supporting communities, artists and the tourism and hospitality sectors, and delivering important economic benefits for tourism businesses across the city and wider county.”

Newly appointed Grand Marshal, Vogue Williams, said: ‘It’s a real honour to be asked to serve as Grand Marshal of the National St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 2026. Growing up in Dublin, St. Patrick’s Day has always been a special time for me and leading the Parade through the city is something I’ve always dreamed of. I’m delighted with the theme of roots this year, as I will talk up my home country and what I love about being Irish any time I get the chance. It’s going to be such an incredible day of celebration, and I’m really looking forward to sharing it with people from home and from the Irish community around the world.’ 

Repro Free: 16/02/2026 Vogue Williams pictured at The Rotunda Hospital after being named Grand Marshal of the 2026 National St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Taking place from 14–17 March 2026, St. Patrick’s Festival returns to its roots with a celebration of culture, creativity and community. The 2026 theme, Roots, reflects where we come from, what grounds us, and the shared stories that connect Ireland to the world. The Rotunda Hospital will also make its first appearance in this year’s National Parade, with a special float designed by ArtFX. Picture Andres Poveda

St. Patrick’s Festival Artistic Director, Aoife Carry, added: ‘Each year, the National St. Patrick’s Day Parade continues to grow in scale, ambition and creativity, and 2026 will be no exception. We are thrilled to have Vogue Williams as Grand Marshal, a figure who embodies the spirit of contemporary Ireland and brings an infectious energy, warmth and authenticity to this role. We look forward to welcoming audiences from home and abroad to experience a Parade that is joyful, inclusive and rooted in community.’

Caroline Boquel, Chief Executive Officer, Fáilte Ireland: “St. Patrick’s Festival Dublin is one of Ireland’s most significant cultural celebrations, attracting visitors from across the country and around the world and delivering meaningful economic impact for the city and beyond. The 2026 Festival offers a powerful opportunity to showcase Ireland’s culture, creativity and sense of belonging on a global stage. This year’s Grand Marshal, Vogue Williams, is a proud Dubliner and she, along with all the participants in the festival, will help showcase Dublin and Ireland as welcoming, vibrant destinations for visitors during St. Patrick’s Day and throughout the year.”

The National St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2026 will form the centrepiece of St. Patrick’s Festival, which takes place across Dublin from 14-17 March. The Parade will feature 12 large-scale floats from independent parade companies, with over 150 artists and 3,000 participants set to take part in a vibrant city-wide programme spanning music, street theatre, dance, comedy, craft and participatory performance. Adding to the festivities, Rotunda Hospital and The Rotunda Foundation will make their first-ever Parade appearance, marking the moment with a special float designed by ArtFX, celebrating one of Dublin’s most historic and iconic institutions and its enduring place at the heart of the city’s story.

Driven by the Festival’s core values of community, diversity, joy, prosperity and sustainability, the Parade will follow its established route through the city, showcasing large-scale pageantry, imaginative storytelling and collaborative performance from Ireland’s leading independent creative parade companies, community groups and international marching bands.

Under the continued artistic leadership of Artistic Director Aoife Carry, the Parade prioritises craft excellence, meaningful participation, sustainability and accessibility, with a strong emphasis on reuse, upcycling and environmentally responsible production. Building on its Climate Action Plan, the Festival is proud to partner once again with Kia as official vehicle partner for a fifth consecutive year.

Accessibility remains central to the Festival, with the return of the Relaxed Parade Space, delivered by Dublin City Council in partnership with AsIAm and supported by Bank of Ireland, Neuroconvergence Ireland and Neurodiversity Ireland, ensuring neurodivergent audiences and those who benefit from a calmer environment can fully enjoy the festivities.

With over half a million spectators expected along the route, the Parade will be broadcast live nationally on RTÉ One and internationally on RTÉ Player, sharing Ireland’s national celebration with audiences around the world.

Repro Free: Dublin 03/02/20267 Tom O’Gorman and Hamza Pirimo, Luail, Ireland’s National Dance Company pictured at the launch of the St Patrick’s Festival 2026 at EPIC, The Irish Emigration Museum. Ireland’s national festival announces its highly anticipated programme, taking place across four days and nights in Dublin from 14–17 March. The theme for St. Patrick’s Festival 2026 is Roots, a celebration of the living roots of Ireland, the people, places and stories that connect us and how those roots extend far beyond borders. Picture Andres Poveda

A limited number of Parade Grandstand Seats and Hospitality Packages will be available at www.stpatricksfestival.ie.

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.