ARTS FESTIVAL EVENTS 11 to 16 AUGUST 2026

The Kenmare Arts Festival 2026 has been, without question, the most successful arts festival yet, engaging (conservatively) over 3,000 people across the programme - local people, visitors, artists, writers, poets, musicians, and workshop participants. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with people travelling from all over Ireland and beyond to take part in what has become a truly distinctive cultural event for the town.

What makes the festival so valuable to Kenmare is not only its scale and quality, but the kind of event it is. It is a gentle, civilised, high-value festival that disrupts nothing and adds a great deal. It brings exactly the kind of visitor any town would want to welcome - people who are engaged, curious, respectful, culturally minded, and happy to spend time in local hotels, B&Bs, restaurants, cafés, galleries, and shops. It enhances the atmosphere of the town rather than putting pressure on it, and it does so in a way that strengthens Kenmare's identity as a place of culture, quality, and creativity.

This year's programme was exceptionally broad, with outstanding workshops, exhibitions, films, classical concerts, literary launches, poetry events, and major cultural gatherings across the fortnight. Visitors came not just to attend, but to participate - in workshops ranging from writing, poetry, collage, pottery, and felting to oil painting, marquetry, and bookmaking. Audiences were captivated by the magical violin concert given by Siun Milne, enjoyed the launch concert of Second Impressions at the Lansdowne Hotel, attended the string quartet at the Carnegie Arts Centre, and were entertained and inspired by internationally acclaimed theatre and opera director Daniel Kramer. The festival was also honoured by the generosity of celebrated writer and screenwriter Kate O'Riordan, who gave her time and expertise so fully, both in workshop settings and on the Carnegie stage.

A particularly important achievement this year was the production of two festival publications: Poets Meet Painters 2026 and First Light - The Kate O'Riordan Prize for Short Fiction. These brought together writers of a remarkably high standard from Ireland, UK,Australia, and the Philippines, reflecting the growing reach and ambition of the festival and the quality of work it is now attracting.

The festival's wider value to the town is immense. It is not simply a programme of events; it is a cultural asset with real opportunity value for Kenmare's businesses, especially its hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, cafés, restaurants, and retail sector. It helps bring people into the town for the right reasons and positions Kenmare as a destination for thoughtful, high-quality cultural tourism.

What makes this all the more remarkable is that the entire festival was delivered without public funding. It was made possible through the commitment and sponsorship of Mill Cove Gallery, together with donations and support from some local businesses and the people of Kenmare. That level of achievement, on such limited means, speaks volumes about the goodwill behind the festival and the appetite for it to continue growing.

The opportunity now is clear. The Kenmare Arts Festival is building year on year, and its value - cultural, social, and economic - is becoming more and more evident. This is something worth cherishing and supporting for the future.