TradFest 2026 in Fingal gets underway this week, bringing Ireland’s largest traditional and folk music festival back to a network of historic venues across the county as organisers expand the event’s community programme and broaden its reach into new locations.
The festival, which has grown into a significant fixture in Ireland’s winter cultural calendar, is positioning itself not only as a celebration of music but also as a driver of local tourism, hospitality trade and community participation during what is typically a quieter period for the visitor economy.
TradFest’s full programme was recently launched at an event in Dublin’s GPO by President Catherine Connolly, underlining the festival’s national profile and its cultural significance beyond Fingal. The festival is inviting audiences to experience live music in what it describes as the “beautiful atmospheric setting of Fingal,” while increasing its focus on family-friendly and community-led activities.
Uachtarán na hÉireann Catherine Connolly said:
“TradFest lights up the dark days of January…..traditional music and Irish culture can be a unifying force, with its visible revival helping to enrich the collective understanding of Irish identity in the 21st century. Events such as TradFest offer us all an important opportunity to immerse ourselves in the beauty of music and the arts, to celebrate the talents and creativity of our performers, to find resonance with each other and the world around us, and to create lasting memories together.”
The festival’s return follows what organisers describe as a very successful TradFest in Fingal in 2025. This year’s edition will again make use of several of the county’s best-known heritage and performance spaces, including Ardgillan Castle, Malahide Castle, Swords Castle Chapel, The Millbank Theatre, Draíocht Theatre and The Séamus Ennis Arts Centre.
In a move that reflects continued demand and the festival’s ambition to reach wider audiences, TradFest is also expanding into new venues for 2026, adding The Little Theatre in Skerries, Saint Macullin Community Centre in Lusk and the Lusk Cultural Centre to its footprint. The broader spread of venues is expected to distribute visitor traffic more widely across Fingal, supporting local businesses such as restaurants, pubs, hotels and transport providers.
Organisers said the programme aims to showcase both established and emerging musical talent, with the festival described as “reimagining and redefining Irish music and bringing it to audiences across Fingal.” The line-up for 2026 includes Ralph McTell & Stocktons Wing, Feile Barney McKenna, The Dublin Legends (formerly the Dubliners), Derek Warfield & the Young Wolfe Tones, Altan, Freddie White, Padraig Jack, Emma Langford, Aine Tyrell, Caoimhin O Raghallaigh, Gerry O Connor & Friends, Phelim Drew, Stephen Rea, Diane Cannon, Niamh Bury, Sean Collins, The Fingal Mummers, The Black Raven Pipe Band, Thru, The Fingal Gospel Choir, with more acts still to be announced.
A key strand of the 2026 programme is a dedicated celebration of the life and career of Barney McKenna, the late Dubliners musician and one of Howth’s most prominent cultural figures. As part of TradFest 2026, organisers are staging Féile Barney, a three-day festival at The Abbey Tavern in Howth, the seaside town McKenna called home.
The tribute will include concerts, pub sessions, banjo masterclasses and a photo exhibition. McKenna’s distinctive playing style on the tenor banjo became synonymous with The Dubliners’ sound, with his plectrum technique widely referred to as “The McKenna Grip”. Over the years he became affectionately known as “Banjo Barney.”
At the Fingal launch, Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Tom O’Leary, said the festival’s decision to spotlight McKenna reflects the strength of Fingal’s cultural heritage and its continuing relevance to Irish music audiences.
“It’s fantastic to have TradFest return to Fingal with a heartfelt salute to Howth’s own Barney McKenna. We are very proud of our connection to one of Ireland’s most iconic musicians and we are delighted he is being recognised in this way. Together with a stellar programme of concerts across Fingal, this tribute captures why TradFest is such a beloved, meaningful festival for us all,” he said.
Alongside its ticketed performances, TradFest is placing increased emphasis on accessibility and audience development, with an expanded community programme planned for later this year. The initiative will outline a series of free, community-led events across Fingal, including a pop-up Gaeltacht for children, a community singing session, pub sessions, film screenings and a photo exhibition featuring Lusk’s Thomas Ashe pipe bands.
Fingal County Council’s Chief Executive, AnnMarie Farrelly, said the festival has become a flagship event for the region, with benefits extending beyond the music programme itself.
“TradFest is now a flagship part of Fingal’s cultural calendar, giving locals and visitors the chance to come together and experience the best of Irish traditional and folk music. Across our historic venues, the festival builds community pride and welcome in equal measure. We’re proud to support an event that celebrates our heritage while inspiring new generations of musicians and fans,” she said.
With performances staged across castles, theatres, arts centres and community spaces, TradFest 2026 is expected to attract both residents and visitors seeking live entertainment and cultural experiences during January. Organisers said the festival offers an accessible entry point for audiences looking for Irish music, culture and “craic” across Fingal.
For full programme details, audiences are directed to www.tradfest.com.
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