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Brigid 2026 Spirit of Kildare Festival Welcomes 50,000 Participants Across Five Days of Celebration  

Sold out performances, family events and large-scale spectacles mark another landmark February Bank Holiday weekend for Kildare 

18th February 2026: The Brigid 2026 Spirit of Kildare Festival has concluded following a hugely successful five-day programme that welcomed thousands of people to events across Kildare. Taking place from Thursday 29 January to Monday 2 February, this year marked the fourth consecutive festival, further cementing Kildare as the home of Ireland’s flagship Brigid celebrations. 

Proudly delivered by Kildare County Council, the festival brought together local communities and visitors across all of County Kildare. Across five days, Brigid 2026 celebrated the legacy of St Brigid through a mix of music, performance, conversation and free family events. 

From intimate live performances to large scale outdoor spectacles, the festival captured the spirit of creativity and connection associated with St Brigid. Alongside its cultural impact, Brigid 2026 provided a significant boost to cultural tourism, supporting local businesses and reinforcing Kildare’s reputation as a destination for major national events during the February Bank Holiday weekend. 

The Spirit of Kildare Sessions concert series proved a standout success, drawing audiences from around Ireland and beyond, with performances by leading Irish artists such as Picture This, Lisa Hannigan, Paul Noonan, Gurriers, Jack L and Celine Byrne selling out in advance. The Festival closed with a special concert by legendary traditional band Altan, supported by Madra Salach, as part of Kildare County Council’s new dedicated Irish culture day on February 2.   

In addition, the Spirit of Kildare Spoken Word events saw two live podcasts, from hugely popular podcasters Blindboy, and How to Gael.  

Free family events continued to be a major draw, with highlights including Baby Céilí, Bee is for Bríd with the Green Grannies, Joe the Magician Beo and the Taylor Swift Party, reflecting the festival’s welcoming, family friendly atmosphere and its focus on bringing people of all ages together.  

A highlight of the festival programme was the inaugural Spirit of Kildare Awards, held on St Brigid’s Day at the Cruinniú Chill Dara Spiegeltent, honouring those who bring St Brigid’s values to life through their contribution to life across the county. Among those recognised was renowned actress, comedian and writer Aisling Bea, who received the Contribution to the Arts Award and Tadhg Beirne who was acknowledged for Sports Achievement, alongside recipients spanning community, heritage, environment, youth and leadership.  

Spectacle and storytelling featured strongly across the festival programme, with Fireside Stories with Volkidana bringing folklore to life in Maynooth through a visually striking blend of puppetry, aerial performance and elemental storytelling, including a relaxed performance with sensory supports to ensure an inclusive experience. In Kildare Town, LUXE Landscape Theatre delivered one of the festival’s most visually striking moments with a grand fiery procession through the streets, drawing large crowds and creating standout imagery as it marked the seasonal shift from winter to spring. 

Sonya Kavanagh, Chief Executive, Kildare County Council, said: “This festival is a wonderful way to honour St. Brigid’s legacy.  It has been a fantastic celebration of our heritage and community. I would like to sincerely thank everyone who contributed to the festival and we look forward to building on this success in the years ahead.” 

Cathaoirleach of the County of Kildare, Councillor Carmel Kelly, welcomed the range of events in this year’s Festival and the positive collaboration between all stakeholders, saying, “The Festival continues to grow every year, offering accessible and affordable opportunities for people of every age to enjoy the artists and creativity of Kildare, as everyone celebrates what St. Brigid means to them. Such is the expansion that between Council-led and community-led events, there were almost 65 events happening this year.”  

Kildare County Council recognises the festival’s vital role in celebrating St. Brigid’s influence. They extend their sincere thanks to the communities of Kildare who not only presented almost 30 events across the programme, but also attended in huge numbers alongside the many visitors we welcomed to Kildare, from around the world, making Brigid 2026 Spirit of Kildare a truly special and memorable occasion. 

For more information and future updates, visit spiritofbrigid.ie