Carlow Arts Festival

Carlow Arts Festival Carlow Arts Festival returns in 2026, Thurs 28 May - Sunday 1 June.

After two years of limited live events, we are thrilled to be welcoming back audiences to our HQ in the grounds of Carlow College and across Carlow Town. Prinicipally funded by The Arts Council | An Chomhairle Ealaíon


Eigse-Carlow Arts Limited is a registered charity (No. 20035419)

Huge thank you to our partner Woodford Dolmen for their support over the festival!Here’s a sneak peek of the bridal suit...
02/06/2026

Huge thank you to our partner Woodford Dolmen for their support over the festival!

Here’s a sneak peek of the bridal suite 🐥🐥

A look back at the Sunday of Carlow Arts Festival 🎭We had a lot of laughs on Sunday night at the comedy gala featuring S...
01/06/2026

A look back at the Sunday of Carlow Arts Festival 🎭

We had a lot of laughs on Sunday night at the comedy gala featuring Sharon Mannion, Bernard Casey, Sophia Wren and Andrew Maxwell.

Incredible music and dance from Céili Afro Dabke Ukraine, the morning Drumming workshop, drums from Maracatu ilha Brilhante.

More delightful street performances O! And Miss Mary

01/06/2026

A Teen Odyssey opened yesterday to two packed audiences!

Three more shows left today of this immersive, fun and moving experience.

Here are some audience reactions and a look at what to expect 🫶🤳

Today at 12:30, 2pm & 3.30pm ❤️ book now at carlowartsfestival.ie

Opening animation created by Josh Lewis

CAF on the Road meets Bagenalstown today as we expand our festival outside of the town! Many exciting performance to be ...
01/06/2026

CAF on the Road meets Bagenalstown today as we expand our festival outside of the town!

Many exciting performance to be held outside St Mary’s Church of Ireland, including incredible show BLOCK.

They’ve been wowing audiences over the weekend with this show on Carlow College Grounds so we are delighted to be taking it to Bagenalstown so that more people across the county can enjoy!

See the full schedule in the next slid

Funded by Carlow Co Council Arts Service under the Carlow Beo! initiative. Supported by Creative Places Bagenalstown and BIG .places.bagenalstown .i.g

Don’t let the rain deter you! Weather due to clear up by this afternoon, just in time for our parade. It’s the last day ...
01/06/2026

Don’t let the rain deter you! Weather due to clear up by this afternoon, just in time for our parade. It’s the last day and we’ve still got so much fun in store for you this bank holiday Monday 🥁

1:30PM, meet on Carlow College Grounds, VISUAL car park entrance.

Crom, a giant brought to life by Macnas, is loose, wild and weary in this world.

He is surrounded by the folklore characters of Carlow – Mad Sweeney, the Scallionater, Labhraidh Loinsigh, the Cailleach, a Seanachaí and the last Wolf of Carlow. Together they will parade through the streets of Carlow. Everyone is invited to come join them on their journey!

Inspired by Carlow Folk Tales, these characters were created as part of The Great Carlow Folklore Resurrection Project with Amie Egan, commissioned by VISUAL and Carlow Arts Office. Maracatu ilha Brilhante will bring the drums and percussion, giving the parade its heartbeat, alongside young musicians from Music Generation Carlow.

Joining the parade are pupils from St Fiacc’s NS, Askea NS, Scoil Mhuire Lourdes NS, Tullow and from St Patrick’s NS, Rathvilly as well as some local groups.

31/05/2026

Watch the Saturday wrap up 🥹🩵

Mourning is a Muscle had it’s first two performances. Only two shows left on Monday (tomorrow!) at 3pm and 6pm, this show will be closing our festival festivities so don’t miss this beautiful show

Music Stage was blown away from insane performances from our CAF Session artists, .stefan_ and

Plus a wild and fantastic performance from Aindrias de Staic & The Latchikos

And we got to witness the spectacular street performances from with BLOCK, O! and Miss Mary

Thank you to everyone who participated and attended yesterday’s activities ❤️❤️❤️

Video by

A look at Saturday at Carlow Arts Festival 🤸‍♂️☀️🫶The festival was in full swing with amazing weather, performances and ...
31/05/2026

A look at Saturday at Carlow Arts Festival 🤸‍♂️☀️🫶

The festival was in full swing with amazing weather, performances and events.

Thank you to all the artists, crew, venues, food vendors, volunteers and audience for an incredible day and night.

Be sure to come join us for our parade Aon Scéal at 1:30pm with special guest, Crom from

If you’re in Bagenalstown tomorrow be sure to check out the fantastic work from with BLOCK at St Mary’s Church

Monday is your last chance to see A Teen Odyssey and Mourning is a Muscle - so get tickets at carlowartsfestival.ie 🎟️

Photos by

A look back at Friday night 🪩🪩Incredible performances from the legendary Camille O’Sullivan, Ciúnas, Dara Eaton & The Pa...
31/05/2026

A look back at Friday night 🪩🪩

Incredible performances from the legendary Camille O’Sullivan, Ciúnas, Dara Eaton & The Patsy’s, Goblins Goblins Goblins and Ping Pong Disco

We danced from day to night 🤸‍♂️

photos by

Thank you to our sponsor and corporate partner for their support of the festival! Their continued support means so much...
31/05/2026

Thank you to our sponsor and corporate partner for their support of the festival!

Their continued support means so much to us. 🫶

Hopefully we keep this nice weather through today, we’ve got so many more free events on the college grounds for all the family.

Limited tickets left for the Comedy Gala tonight !! - get them while you can at carlowartsfestival.ie

Last week, Tony Davis & Patrick Fitzgerald, Carlow Arts Festival's newest employees, led their second in-person workshop...
03/12/2025

Last week, Tony Davis & Patrick Fitzgerald, Carlow Arts Festival's newest employees, led their second in-person workshop, as part of the Our Place project, with a group at Delta Sensory Gardens Carlow 2025. They discussed their human rights and recorded sounds that represented those rights.

On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we recognise that the arts as a sector has a lot of work to do to become more inclusive and supportive of people with disabilities. Carlow Arts Festival are excited to be on this journey to learn and make changes in how we work with the Our Place team.

The Our Place team includes lead artists AlanJames Burns and Sinead McCann, and co-designers Patrick Fitzgerald and Tony Davis, supported by staff at St John of God Liffey Services Dublin.

This project is kindly supported by the from Rethink Ireland.

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Festival HQ At Carlow College Street Patrick's
Carlow

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