Now in its 21st year<\/a>, TradFest spans Dublin Castle, St Patrick\u2019s Cathedral, City Hall, Temple Bar pubs and featured headline events as well as small, intimate acoustic gatherings.<\/p>\nLord Mayor Ray McAdam is encouraging everyone to join in the festivities, stating: \u201cTradFest 2026 captures everything that is special about Dublin, our music, our heritage, our warmth and our creativity.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
With pop-up sessions taking place in Henry Street, O\u2019Connell Street, Jervis Shopping Centre, ILAC Shopping Centre, and St Stephen\u2019s Green Shopping Centre, music lovers should be on the lookout for a surprise session. These lively performances infuse Dublin\u2019s busiest retail and pedestrian areas with vibrancy and accessibility, ensuring the festival reaches the widest possible audience.<\/p>\n
Other exciting events taking place for TradFest 2026 include:<\/p>\n
Temple Bar and Wider City Centre Sessions:<\/h3>\n
Temple Bar remains the heart of TradFest, hosting the well\u2011known Smithwick\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Headline Concerts in Historic Dublin Venues:<\/h3>\n
TradFest 2026 features major performances at historic city venues including Dublin Castle, St Patrick\u2019s Cathedral, City Hall and the National Stadium. Audiences can enjoy standout events such as F\u00e9ile K\u00edla, showcasing one of Ireland\u2019s most innovative bands, and Transatlantic Women, linking Irish and American folk traditions through performances by internationally acclaimed artists including Mair\u00e9ad N\u00ed Mhaonaigh, Sharon Shannon, Peggy Seeger and others.<\/p>\n
An Sesh M\u00f3r and Late\u2011Night Gatherings:<\/h3>\n
For late\u2011night audiences, An Sesh M\u00f3r returns to The Button Factory, offering high\u2011energy performances in the heart of Temple Bar, complemented by additional night\u2011time events across Dublin\u2019s vibrant live\u2011music scene.<\/p>\n
Full programme details and ticket information are available at www.tradfest.com<\/p>\n
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