An immersive cultural journey awaits in Kinsale
All roads lead to Kinsale this weekend as the coastal town will transform into a stage for the milestone 10th anniversary of the Kinsale Arts Weekend.
This year’s festival features a packed schedule of more than 50 events spanning music, theatre, film, visual art, literature and dance. Over four days, visitors and locals alike are invited to dive into an immersive cultural journey across intimate and unconventional venues throughout the town.
Established in 2016, Kinsale Arts Weekend is an entirely community-rooted and largely volunteer-led festival that transforms the historic town of Kinsale into a canvas of artistic expression every July. The 2026 festival marks its milestone 10th anniversary, supporting a decade of independent arts in West Cork.
The festival information office is located at the Temperance Hall and will remain open to visitors for the duration of the festival from 9-12 July.
One of the highlights of the festival is ‘GHOSTIS: Celebrating the Origins of Welcome’, a joyful and thought-provoking live panel discussion curated by artist and writer Jennie Moran. This will take place at the Methodist Church on Friday 10 July at 6pm. The event explores the deep customs, rituals and philosophies of hospitality across global cultures through personal stories, food and community. Another highlight is ‘An Operatic Masterpiece: The Lament for Art O'Leary’ taking place on Saturday 11 July in a collaboration with the Joseph Walsh Studio. This event offers a haunting, contemporary operatic reimagining of one of Ireland's most profound expressions of grief, love and defiance. Featuring a score by composer Irene Buckley and text by poet Vona Groarke, the experience begins with an open-air introduction to the tradition of keening by Professor Tríona Ní Shíocháin, before moving indoors for an atmospheric concert featuring powerhouse sopranos Emma Nash and Kim Sheehan.
Adding to the festival's vibrant celebration of powerful female voices, audiences can also look forward to ‘Rí Rá Mná: Live Podcast’ and the compelling short film screening ‘Trína Súile’.