The 21st annual TradFest kicks off today with events small intimate sessions and headline events across Dublin Castle, St Patrick’s Cathedral, City Hall, and Temple Bar pubs
Those looking to beat the January blues and liven their week need only pop into the city centre and enjoy all that TradFest 2026 has to offer.
From January 21-25, Dublin will be filled with music, culture, and winter warmth as the capital is transformed with Ireland’s largest traditional and folk music festival. With world‑class performances, informal sessions and pop‑up cultural moments, Dublin’s most iconic civic spaces, shopping districts and historic venues will be filled with live music from Wednesday until Sunday.
Primarily rooted in Temple Bar but extending across the city, strong support from Dublin City Council has helped ensure there’s a variety of accessible public events for all. Now in its 21st year, TradFest spans Dublin Castle, St Patrick’s Cathedral, City Hall, Temple Bar pubs and featured headline events as well as small, intimate acoustic gatherings.
Lord Mayor Ray McAdam is encouraging everyone to join in the festivities, stating: “TradFest 2026 captures everything that is special about Dublin, our music, our heritage, our warmth and our creativity.
“As Lord Mayor, my theme this year is Celebrating Dublin, and TradFest is a perfect expression of that spirit: a city alive with culture, community, and pride in who we are. Dublin City Council is proud to support a festival that reaches right into the heart of the city centre, bringing free sessions, performances and cultural experiences directly to the public. I encourage everyone to step into town, follow the music from street to street, and enjoy the extraordinary talent TradFest brings to Dublin each January.”
One highlight is the Dublin City Sessions, which provides live pop-up trad music at some of the busiest spots in the city centre. These spontaneous performances ensure that everyone, whether shopping, commuting or strolling, can encounter and enjoy the atmosphere of TradFest without tickets or queues.
With pop-up sessions taking place in Henry Street, O’Connell Street, Jervis Shopping Centre, ILAC Shopping Centre, and St Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre, music lovers should be on the lookout for a surprise session. These lively performances infuse Dublin’s busiest retail and pedestrian areas with vibrancy and accessibility, ensuring the festival reaches the widest possible audience.
Other exciting events taking place for TradFest 2026 include:
Temple Bar and Wider City Centre Sessions:
Temple Bar remains the heart of TradFest, hosting the well‑known Smithwick’s Sessions, which are free, informal performances in iconic pubs where visitors can walk in and experience live traditional music. Beyond Temple Bar, Dublin Castle, City Hall and other historic civic buildings will host additional acoustic sets and cultural events, offering unique atmospheric settings for audiences.
Headline Concerts in Historic Dublin Venues:
TradFest 2026 features major performances at historic city venues including Dublin Castle, St Patrick’s Cathedral, City Hall and the National Stadium. Audiences can enjoy standout events such as Féile Kíla, showcasing one of Ireland’s most innovative bands, and Transatlantic Women, linking Irish and American folk traditions through performances by internationally acclaimed artists including Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Sharon Shannon, Peggy Seeger and others.
An Sesh Mór and Late‑Night Gatherings:
For late‑night audiences, An Sesh Mór returns to The Button Factory, offering high‑energy performances in the heart of Temple Bar, complemented by additional night‑time events across Dublin’s vibrant live‑music scene.
Full programme details and ticket information are available at www.tradfest.com
This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
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