Rory-Mural. Copyright: pat
Ballyshannon is in for a busy year in 2026. Not all dates are verified yet, but this is roughly what the events-calendar 2026 is going to look like: packed!
30.1.-1.2.2026: Traditional Music Weekend
Kind of the “little sister” of the Folk Festival in summer, and naturally more indoor-based: Venues are usually Dorrians Hotel and the pubs known for their Trad-affiliation – McIntyres and the Bridgend Bar are going to be the hotspots for sure.
14.3.-22.3.: Ballyshannon Drama Festival (not confirmed yet)
For one week The Abbey Arts Centre becomes the focus of everything theatre and literature in Donegal.
8.5.-10.5.: Donegal Fleadh
The County Fleadh is going to be hosted for two consecutive years in Ballyshannon!
28.5.-31.5.: Rory Gallagher International Blues Festival
Ballyshannons most famous son is going to commemorated once again – with aprx. 30 acts on 15 stages, headlined by Billy F. Gibbons of ZZ-Top-fame and Bundorans own Johnny Gallagher.
30.7.-2.8.: Ballyshannon Folk and Traditional Music Festival
It is the year before the big year: The Trad-Festival takes place for its 49th time – the last surviving festival of the great Folk-Boom of the 1970ies. In the middle of the 80ies it was the biggest of its kind, drawing tenthousands of people to Ballyshannon. Will the Trad-revival of recent years give it a fresh boost?
23.10.-25.10.: Ballyshannon Blues Weekend
The “little sister” of the Rory-festival. In the last two years it has become a booming, lively autumn-event, with more than 20 acts on 12 stages. Besides established and even international acts local young bands get their chance to fame: great fun!
3.11.-8.11.: Allingham Arts Festival (not confirmed yet)
A cultural festival in a not even 3000-inhabitant-town? Oh yes, and a very notable one indeed: Allingham features theatre, Poetry, lectures, its very own literature-contest and – for sure – some fine music as well. A real highlight!
Quite honestly: that is more than many towns ten times the size can muster. Looking forward to it!