Atlantic Irish Fest:
​January 17-20, 2026

The annual Atlantic Irish Fest will take place in Donegal in January 2026. We have a cracking line-up of Irish bands and musicians, cozy pubs & plenty of craic. You can also join in on cultural talks and tours. Over four nights the festival brings a strong line-up of traditional Irish music: On Saturday 17 January, we have Cairdeas, a showcase featuring traditional musicians, dancers and singers of all ages. Curated by Michael McGrath, this multi-family showcase brings you to the source and the genesis of traditional music. (Bundoran)

On Sunday 18 January, another family group, Clann Mhic Ruairí from the Gaeltacht of Rann na Feirste take the stage, with a mix of Gaelic song, storytelling and instrumental work rooted in their native tradition.  (Bundoran)

On Monday 19 January, the celebrated guitarist Johnny Gallagher performs in the iconic venue Leo’s Tavern in Crolly, weaving blues, folk, Americana and Irish roots sounds. Our relocation to the Gaeltacht where Enya, Clannad & Kneecap have all nurtured their Irish Language is part of your adventure along the Wild Atlantic Way.

The festival wraps up on Tuesday 20January with The Whileaways, a group from Galway whose rich harmonies and emotional melodies provide a moving finale to the weekend of music, culture and tours around Donegal.

Tickets Available Here

Atlantic Irish Fest Gigs 2026

Cairdeas TRAD SHOWCASE -  SATURDAY JAN 17 

Cairdeas is a traditional Irish music group hailing from Donegal, a region known for its rich musical heritage. The band consists of four talented musicians who are deeply passionate about preserving and sharing the traditional tunes and songs of Ireland. These musicians are also teachers of Irish traditional music, and for this showcase they will demonstrate to you where the music begins - you'll be introduced to musicians and dancers and performers of all ages who keep the flame burning and make sure the tradition will continue for generations. ​

CLANN MHIC RUAIRÍ  SUNDAY JAN 18 

Clann Mhic Ruairí are an Irish folk/trad band. They are a family group, made up of siblings Tony (singer), Aodh (singer/guitar), Sean (singer), Dónall (singer/percussion) and Tony’s daughter Megan (piano and singer). As a family they were raised on the Gaelic songs and stories of the ‘Rann na Feirste Gaeltacht’ in County Donegal, (Gaelic speaking area) in the North West corner of Ireland. The members of Clann Mhic Ruairí are individual artists in their own right, each member having performed over the years on solo projects and with other artists and groups. In 2013 they decide to formally come together as Clann Mhic Ruairí and the preservation of the song tradition of ‘Rann na Feirste’ is foremost in their mind. Much of their repertoire are songs which were composed and sung in their locality for hundreds of years. They perform these traditional songs with a contemporary, innovative and inspirational approach, retaining the traditional purity and integrity of the song.

Johnny Gallagher - An Evening in Leo's Bar, Home of Clannad and ENya - Monday Jan. 20

A trip to Donegal's most famous music pub -  situated along the Wild Atlantic Way, between the popular destinations of Mount Errigal and the Atlantic Ocean, Leo's Tavern is renowned for its music being the family home of world famous musical talents Enya, Clannad and Moya Brennan. We'll have our evening meal here and enjoy traditional music from local artists who have been brought up in this inimitable venue, as well as one of Ireland's best guitarists Johnny Gallagher.

THE WHILEAWAYS- Tuesday Jan. 20

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Single Gig Tickets and nightly accommodation available.
For Media or any other inquiries, please contact [email protected] for more details

Atlantic Irish Fest 2026 Media Kit - Click Here

See gig tickets

 Atlantic Fest Awaits..

If you are looking to book tickets to one of our Atlantic Irish Fest gigs, but have a few questions first, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our staff will work with you and your group to organising transfers, give you Information about accommodation, and help with anything else we can. We look forward to hearing from you.