Bealtaine Festival

02/06/2026

Thank you to all of the volunteers, artists, participants and audiences who joined us in the Project Arts Centre last weekend for the Bealtaine Flagship Festival, and to all of the venues, artists, libraries and communities who came together nationally throughout the month of May to celebrate Bealtaine 2026!
This year was a year was truly outstanding, and we are so grateful to have had so much participation and support across the country in making it such a special festival.
Take a look at some of the photos our volunteers took during our 2026 Flagship Festival weekend, and keep an eye on our channels for further updates.
See you next year!
Age & Opportunity HSE Ireland The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon

27/05/2026

We’re delighted to partner with Expressway for Bealtaine Festival 2026 🎨🚍
Enjoy direct, comfortable travel to events across the country — making it easier than ever to experience our performances, workshops and community programmes this May 💛
Plan your journey and be part of it ✨

Age & Opportunity HSE Ireland The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon

27/05/2026

Flagship Weekend Highlights 🎉✨

Bealtaine Festival’s closing weekend at the Project Arts Centre is packed with standout events across literature, music, dance, film and conversation, a vibrant celebration of creativity at every age.

Take part in workshops, catch film screenings, join walking tours, or simply drop in and soak up the atmosphere across Temple Bar, all leading up to our end-of-festival celebration at 6 O’Clock Rock with Sing Along Social.

📍 Project Arts Centre & venues across Temple Bar
📅 28th – 30th May

Spaces are limited across events! Book now or pop by and be part of the final weekend of Bealtaine 2026.



Age & Opportunity HSE Ireland The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon

27/05/2026

27/05/2026

Clare Monelly chairs panel featuring Shaun Dunne and Pom Boyd at the special Bealtaine Film retrospective at this year's flagship festival in the Project Arts Centre. ✨🎬

Don’t miss these films on the big screen, offering another chance to experience a powerful selection of Bealtaine-commissions — each one a unique exploration of age, identity, care, creativity and community. The programme features 'Where Do All The Old G**s Go?' directed by Cathy Dunne; 'Over/Pass' by Shaun Dunne and Jessica Kennedy; 'Home: A Filmpoem', a collaborative project by poet Enda Wyley & visual artist Anita Groener; 'The Key was Always in the Door (2019)' by Collette Nolan and poet Gerry Murphy, and Pom Boyd’s iconic 'The Windy Lady'.

The screening will be followed by a lively panel discussion —offering insight, reflection, and conversation you won’t want to miss. 💬
🗓 28 May 2026
🕑 2:00–3:30pm
📍 Project Arts Centre
Tickets available: https://projectartscentre.ie/events/bealtaine-film-retrospective/
Age & Opportunity HSE Ireland The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon Project Arts Centre

26/05/2026

Two more days until Sax, (No) Drugs & Rock ’n’ Roll 🎶🔥

Irish Times arts journalist Nadine O’Regan hosts this much-anticipated conversation with three iconic figures in Irish music - Mary Coughlan , Barry Devlin (Horslips) and Keith Donald (Moving Hearts), for an honest, entertaining and revealing look at life in music.

📍 Project Arts Centre
🕢 28th May, 7.30pm – 9pm

https://projectartscentre.ie/events/sex-no-drugs-rock-n-roll/
Expect stories from the road, reflections on major careers, personal lives and candid conversations around success, addiction and survival in the music industry. A special audience Q&A is included.



Age & Opportunity HSE Ireland The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon

26/05/2026

We’re delighted to partner with Expressway for Bealtaine Festival 2026 🎨🚍

Connecting you to creativity, conversation and community across Ireland this May 💛
Travel with ease to our Flagship Festival Weekend at Project Arts Centre — featuring Miriam O'Callaghan in conversation with Susan McKay, Mary Coughlan with Barry Devlin & Keith Donald (chaired by Nadine O'Reagan) at 'Sax, (No) Drugs, & Rock and Roll,' Paul Cleary with Tom Dunne live and in-conversation, Marie Brett + Company Philip Connaughton at 'Choreographing Autonomy', and Sing Along Social ‘Six O’Clock Rock.’ Don't miss ‘This Land Bears Our Name’ at Temple Bar Gallery + Studios presented by Eireann and I Archive throughout the weekend, and hop into a workshop to get involved! All this and much more in store this weekend Project Arts Centre
https://projectartscentre.ie/events/bealtaine-festival-2026/
Plan your journey, explore the programme, and be part of it ✨


Age & Opportunity HSE Ireland The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon

26/05/2026

CLOSING TOMORROW
Invitation to Tender: Performing Arts Curator; Visual Arts Curator 2026–2029

Age & Opportunity Arts invites tenders for Festival Curators for Ireland’s national festival celebrating arts and creativity as we age.

You can apply for one or both roles:
Performing Arts Curator
Visual Arts Curator

Full details, eligibility and application requirements can be found here: https://bealtaine.ie/invitation-to-tender-bealtaine-2026-2029-performing-arts-and-visual-arts-festival-curators/

🕛 Closing date: Wednesday 27 May 2026, 12 noon

We welcome applications that reflect Bealtaine’s participatory ethos and national reach.


Age & Opportunity HSE Ireland The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon

25/05/2026

Ageing in Place: Walking Tour of Temple Bar 🚶‍♀️🏛️✨

A unique guided walking tour exploring the past and present of Temple Bar, led by Michael McDermott, as part of the Bealtaine Festival. Presented by the Irish Architecture Foundation, this walk reflects on how we experience ageing, place and community in the city.

📍 Meet outside Project Arts Centre
📅 Friday 29 May | 11am – 12pm

Places are limited, so reserve yours today!



Age & Opportunity HSE Ireland The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon