Tradfest Dublin

TradFest 2026 runs from 21st to 25th January, delivering five days of traditional, folk and contemporary music across Dublin City and the wider county. Now a major fixture in the winter cultural calendar, the festival brings live performances into concert halls, libraries, cultural centres and local venues, continuing its focus on access, inclusion and high quality programming during the quieter January period.

The opening day on Wednesday, 21st January includes a strong mix of concerts and community events. Highlights include Mike Hanrahan and Eleanor Shanley with support from Liliana at Áras Chrónáin Ionad Cultúir, Aoife Scott presents Women of Note in Dublin City and Ceol agus Craic with Martin Nolan and Mick Dunphy at Ballyroan Library. Workshops and participation events such as Try the Pipes with Na Pìobairì Uilleann at Clondalkin Library also form part of the programme.

Across the festival week, audiences can attend events in venues throughout Dublin City, Fingal, South Dublin and Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown. Early programme highlights include The Tymon Sessions at Castletymon Library on 14th January and Traditional Harp Playing at North Clondalkin Library on 10th January, setting the tone for the main festival dates with local and accessible performances.

The weekend programme builds towards AbleFest, with dedicated day tickets available on Saturday, 24th January and Sunday, 25th January. Pop up performances such as Pop Up Trad at the GPO and a range of Dublin City sessions add to the atmosphere, bringing music into public and civic spaces alongside ticketed concerts.

With events spread across multiple days and locations, TradFest 2026 offers audiences the chance to explore Irish traditional music in many forms, from seated concerts and intimate sessions to workshops and large scale celebrations, reinforcing Dublin’s role as a centre for live trad and folk music during the winter months.