Music
Festivals & Concert Series in August & September 2026
Make the most of the last weeks of summer with our guide on festivals and concert series in August and September across Ireland
As summer begins to draw to a close, festivals and concert series in August and September continue to fill the long evenings with outdoor music. Before autumn arrives, you can still catch exciting international artists and Irish talent on stages across the country. Whether you’re planning the rite-of-passage camping weekend at Electric Picnic or looking for a more low-key city-centre gig, there’s plenty happening across Ireland this time of year.
Live at the Breakwater
Ferrybank, Wexford | 7–15 August
In Wexford, the Live at the Breakwater festival takes place over two weekends, from Friday 7 to Saturday 15 August. Opening night will see Qween team up with the Dublin Gospel Choir to deliver some of Queen’s most beloved hits. Saturday 8 August will see The Big Session present an exciting evening of folk, country, and electronic dance music, with the Whistlin’ Donkeys, Ruaile Buaile, and DJ Mark McCabe. K-POP Superstars round off the first weekend.
DJ Dec Pierce brings his Block Rockin’ Beats show to the stage on 14 August, and Cork singer-songwriter Cian Ducrot headlines the festival’s final night.
Live at the Docklands
Limerick Docklands | 14–22 August
Limerick will host the Live at the Docklands concert series with performances from Qween, Dec Pierce, and Cian Ducrot at its city-centre marquee venue, from 14 to 22 August.
Folk trio Amble, who last year rose to acclaim with their album Reverie (Warner Records), will play three back-to-back nights in the Shannon-side venue on 20, 21, and 22 August. All three shows are currently sold out, but keep an eye out for resale tickets at the link below.
CHSq
Custom House Square, Belfast | 8 August–1 September
CHSq returns to Belfast’s Custom House in August with local and international artists spanning pop, dance, alternative, folk, and rock.
This series opens on 8 August with Lush! Classical – blending dance anthems with a full orchestra – before veteran singer Tom Jones takes to the stage on 12 August. House DJ Ben Hemsley headlines on Friday 14 August, while Northern Ireland singer-songwriter Foy Vance performs on Saturday 15 August with special guests on the day including Belfast folk singer Joshua Burnside and comedian Vittorio Angelone, among others. Across the remaining dates, The Proclaimers, dance legends Faithless, Belfast punks Stiff Little Fingers, post-punk band IDLES, English indie band Wolf Alice, and CMAT are set to perform. Alt band Wunderhorse and Belfast band Chalk will also appear across the series.
Belfast Vital
Boucher Road Playing Fields, Belfast | 20–22 August
Boucher Road Playing Fields in Belfast will host Belfast Vital this year on 20 and 22 August. Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi takes to the stage on 20 August, with special guest Loyle Carner, while DJ Calvin Harris, joined on the line-up by Jazzy, performs on 22 August.
Wider Than Pictures
Collins Barracks, Dublin | 25–30 August
Wider Than Pictures returns to Collins Barracks in Dublin from 25 to 30 August with a series of city-centre concerts. Australian punk-rock band Amyl and the Sniffers kick off the series with shows on 25 and 26 August, followed by indie singer-songwriter Faye Webster on 27 August. DJ Berlioz performs on 28 August, while indie favourite Mac DeMarco is set for the stage on 29 August. Welsh alternative indie-pop band Super Furry Animals bring the series to a close on 30 August, rounding off six nights of live music at one of Dublin’s most central and easily accessible outdoor venues.
Electric Picnic
Stradbally, Laois | 28–30 August
Ireland’s end-of-summer festival Electric Picnic returns to Stradbally from 28 to 30 August. This year’s line-up includes international headliners Sombr, Gorillaz, and Zara Larsson, and Irish talent Fontaines D. C. and CMAT. Loyle Carner and Wolf Alice are also set to perform across the weekend, as well as Florence Road, Duke Dumont, The Saw Doctors, and Madra Salach.
Across the festival’s many stages and areas, festival-goers can also expect comedy, theatre, talks, spoken word, art exhibitions, wellness experiences, and a packed food programme. Electric Picnic 2026 is currently sold out, but keep an eye out for resale tickets.
Emerge
Boucher Road Playing Fields, Belfast | 29–30 August
Electronic music festival Emerge takes over Belfast’s Boucher Playing Fields this year on 29 and 30 August. Saturday’s line-up includes headliner Hannah Laing with a bill of high-energy acts including Charlie Sparks, Funk Tribu, and VTSS. On Sunday, blk. tops the bill, with Vieze Asbak, Restricted, Negitiv, and more on the line-up.
WellFest
Ormeau Park, Belfast | 12–13 September
Europe’s largest outdoor fitness and wellness festival WellFest arrives in Belfast for the first time, taking over Ormeau Park on 12 and 13 September.
Across five stages and areas, festival-goers can expect fitness stars, wellness experts, workouts, yoga sessions, talks, and community activities. Headlining the inaugural Belfast edition is fitness icon Joe Wicks, joined by his wife Rosie. Also set to appear over the two-day event are online fitness personality Maeve Madden, Olympic and world champion gymnast Rhys McClenaghan, therapist Owen O’Kane, and Irish Paralympic swimmer and gold medallist Ellen Keane.
From festivals & concert series in August & September to even more summer events, our Festival Guide highlights some of the most exciting happenings across Ireland.
