#Dublin City Comes Alive for TradFest 2026

Dublin City Council is inviting everyone to step into the heart of the capital this January as TradFest 2026 fills the city centre with music, culture and winter warmth, transforming Dublin into a vibrant celebration of Irish traditional and folk music. TradFest 2026, running from 21–25 January, brings world‑class performances, informal sessions and pop‑up cultural moments to Dublin’s most iconic civic spaces, shopping districts and historic venues. 

The festival is Ireland’s largest traditional and folk music celebration, rooted in Temple Bar and extending across Dublin City Centre, with strong support from Dublin City Council to ensure accessible public events for all. 

Now in its 21st year, the festival spans Dublin Castle, St Patrick’s Cathedral, City Hall, Temple Bar pubs, and numerous city‑centre locations, offering everything from headline concerts to intimate acoustic gatherings. 

Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Ray McAdam encourages 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.”

TradFest 2026 Highlights include:
Dublin City Sessions – Pop‑Up TradFest Performances
Supported directly by Dublin City Council, the Dublin City Sessions bring free live pop‑up traditional music to high‑footfall public spaces across the city. These spontaneous performances ensure that everyone, whether shopping, commuting or strolling, can encounter and enjoy the atmosphere of TradFest without tickets or queues. 

Pop‑up session locations include:

• Henry Street 
• O’Connell Street
• Jervis Shopping Centre
• ILAC Shopping Centre
• St Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre

These lively performances infuse Dublin’s busiest retail and pedestrian areas with vibrancy and accessibility, ensuring the festival reaches the widest possible audience.

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. 

TradFest 2026 is designed to be inclusive, accessible, and connected to the city’s public spaces. Dublin City Council is proud to support a programme that ensures music can be enjoyed by all, whether attending headline concerts or discovering a spontaneous performance while walking through the city centre.

Full programme details and ticket information are available at www.tradfest.com

Dublin City Council encourages everyone to join in, explore the city, and celebrate the best of Irish culture this January.