Festivals in Ireland 2027: The Walker's Calendar (and the Dates to Book Early)
Planning a walk in Ireland next year? Then you need two calendars, not one. The first is the list of festivals in Ireland 2027 that walkers love: guided weekends in the Galtees, the Burren, the Cooleys and Mayo. The second is the list of dates that quietly empty every B&B for miles. A golf tournament, a race week or a music festival can book out a whole county. In 2027 that matters more than ever, because the Ryder Cup comes to Adare Manor in September.
We run self guided walking holidays on Ireland's long distance trails. Every year we see the same thing. A walker emails in July about a Kerry Way trip in mid August, and the beds in Killorglin are gone. Puck Fair. This guide is our answer. It has every walking festival we can verify, the big events that squeeze accommodation, the 2027 bank holidays, and a trail by trail list of dates to book early or avoid.
How to read the dates in this guide
We checked every date on 15 October 2026. Some organisers have already published their 2027 dates. Many have not. So each entry is marked in one of two ways:
- Confirmed: the 2027 date is published by the organiser or an official fixture list.
- Expected: the organiser has not published 2027 yet, so we give the usual pattern (for example, the May bank holiday weekend) and the matching 2027 dates.
We update this page as dates are confirmed. If you spot a change before we do, let us know and we will fix it.
The ten dates that fill Ireland's beds in 2027
If you only read one table, read this one. These are the events that push up prices and remove rooms near our trails. The last column tells you which walks feel the squeeze.
| Event | 2027 dates | Where | Trails affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryder Cup | 13 to 19 Sept (confirmed) | Adare Manor, Limerick | Kerry Way, Dingle Way, Burren Way, Beara Way, Sheep's Head Way |
| Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann | Early Aug (expected, 2026 ran 2 to 9 Aug) | Belfast | Causeway Coast, Saint Patrick's Way, Mournes |
| Galway Races Summer Festival | 26 July to 1 Aug (confirmed) | Galway | Burren Way, Connemara |
| Puck Fair and Rose of Tralee | 10 to 12 Aug (confirmed) and 13 to 17 Aug (provisional) | Killorglin and Tralee, Kerry | Kerry Way, Dingle Way |
| Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival | All of September (annual) | Lisdoonvarna, Clare | Burren Way |
| North West 200 | 11 to 15 May (confirmed) | Portrush and Portstewart | Causeway Coast |
| Punchestown Festival | 27 April to 1 May (confirmed) | Kildare | Wicklow Way, Barrow Way |
| Killarney Races, July Festival | 12 to 16 July (confirmed) | Killarney, Kerry | Kerry Way |
| Dingle Marathon and Kerry Way Ultra | 4 Sept (confirmed) and 3 to 4 Sept (listed) | Dingle and Killarney | Dingle Way, Kerry Way |
| Electric Picnic | 27 to 29 Aug (confirmed, sold out) | Stradbally, Laois | Barrow Way, Wicklow Way south |
Our tip: for any walk that touches these dates, book six months ahead. For the Ryder Cup week, book as soon as you can. We will tell you straight away if a village is already full, and offer a date a week either side.
The Ryder Cup 2027 and what it means for walkers
The 2027 Ryder Cup is at Adare Manor in County Limerick. Practice days run from Monday 13 to Thursday 16 September. The matches are Friday 17 to Sunday 19 September. The organisers expect more than 250,000 spectators over the week, with up to 55,000 people a day on site. General admission tickets sold out and were oversubscribed twelve times over.
Why does a golf event in Limerick matter for a walker in Kerry? Because the visitors stay everywhere within a two hour drive. That means Killarney, Kenmare, Tralee, Dingle, Ennis, Doolin, Lisdoonvarna, Bantry and Glengarriff. Shannon and Cork airports are both busy. Even horse racing has moved. Listowel Harvest Festival now starts a day later, on Monday 20 September, to avoid the clash. The National Ploughing Championships moved a week later too, to 21 to 23 September in Kildare.
Searching for Ryder Cup 2027 accommodation will show you the problem fast. Hotels in Limerick were already selling out for that week in spring 2026. So here is our honest advice for walkers:
- Walking 10 to 20 September 2027 in Kerry, Clare or West Cork? Book now, or move your dates a week either side. The week after, 20 to 26 September, is lovely. The light is golden and the crowds are gone.
- Walking in Wicklow, the Barrow Valley or the North? You are fine. The Ryder Cup will not touch the Wicklow Way, the Barrow Way, the Mournes or the Causeway Coast.
- Want to combine both? Some of our guests are golf fans. Walk the Kerry Way the week before, then head to Adare for the matches. Just book the walk first.
Walking festivals in Ireland 2027
A walking festival is a weekend (or longer) of guided walks, graded by difficulty, with a social programme in the evenings. You walk with locals who know every bog and boreen. It is a brilliant way to try a region before you commit to a full self guided week there.
Here are the walking festivals in Ireland 2027 we could verify. A note of honesty first. A few festivals that appeared on older calendars have paused or stopped. We could not find current editions of the Mourne International, Kenmare, Sheep's Head, Beara or Burren Peaks walking festivals, and the Wicklow Walking Festival has not run since 2024. If they return, we will add them back.
| Festival | Where | 2027 dates | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glen of Aherlow Winter Walking Festival | Galtee Mountains, Tipperary | 29 to 31 Jan (expected, last weekend of January) | Graded A, B and C hill walks, cosy hotel base |
| Causeway Coast and Glens Walking Festival | Antrim and Derry coast | Mid March (expected, 2026 ran 13 to 15 March) | Three themed guided walks, 6 to 12 km |
| Ardara Walking Festival | Ardara, Donegal | St Patrick's weekend (expected, check with organisers) | Sliabh Liag and coastal walks |
| North Leitrim Glens Hillwalking Festival | Dromahair, Leitrim | 27 to 28 March (expected, Easter weekend) | Quiet glens, small groups |
| Wander Wild Festival | Killarney, Kerry | 9 to 11 April (confirmed) | Guided hikes on Mangerton and the Reeks, trail runs, talks, music |
| Achill Camino Challenge | Achill Island, Mayo | Mid April (expected, 2026 ran 18 to 19 April) | Three guided island walks of 10 to 18 km |
| Connemara Mountain Walking Festival | Leenane, Galway | 30 April to 2 May (expected, May bank holiday) | Farmer guided routes across private hill land |
| Kerry Camino | Tralee to Dingle, on the Dingle Way | 1 to 3 May (expected, May bank holiday) | Three day charity walk with buses back to Tralee |
| Slieve Bloom Walking Festival | Laois and Offaly | 1 to 3 May (expected, May bank holiday) | Woodland and hill walks, friendly club atmosphere |
| Burren in Bloom | The Burren, Clare | Throughout May (expected) | Botanist led wildflower walks and farm visits |
| Táin International Hillwalking Festival | Cooley Mountains, Louth | 19 to 20 June (expected, 2026 ran 20 to 21 June) | Hill walks above Carlingford Lough |
| Castlebar International Four Days' Walks | Castlebar, Mayo | 1 to 4 July (confirmed, 60th anniversary) | 10 or 20 km road walks each day, famous Blister Ball |
| Comeraghs Wild Festival | Comeragh Mountains, Waterford | 8 to 11 July (expected, second weekend of July) | Looped walks, the Comeragh Crossing, open air concerts |
| Donegal Camino | Inishowen to Sliabh Liag, Donegal | Late Aug to early Sept (expected, 2026 ran 30 Aug to 5 Sept) | Seven walks in seven days for charity |
| Wee Binnian Walkers Hillwalking Festival | Warrenpoint, Mournes and Cooleys | Mid September (expected) | Graded mountain walks, Saturday night ceili |
| Skibbereen Walking Festival | Skibbereen, West Cork | Late September (expected, 2026 ran 26 to 27 Sept) | Gentle 7 to 11 km heritage walks |
| Carlow Autumn Walking Festival | Blackstairs Mountains and Barrow Valley | 1 to 3 October (expected, first weekend of October) | Mount Leinster, night hike, riverside strolls |
| Ballyhoura Walking Festival | Kilfinane, Limerick | Early October (expected, 2026 ran 9 to 11 October) | 40 plus guided walks, runs with the Joyce Brothers Music Festival |
Ballyhoura is worth a special mention. It is Ireland's longest running community walking festival. It used to be in May. It now runs in October, so do not plan around the old date. Castlebar turns 60 in 2027. That one is the big social event of the Irish walking year, with walkers from all over Europe.
Festivals in Ireland 2027, month by month
This is the full calendar. We only list events that matter to a walker. That means they are either worth a detour, or they fill rooms near one of our trails. Sport, music, books, food and tradition are all here. Bold dates are the ones we would plan around.
January to March 2027
| Event | Dates | Where | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art O'Neill Challenge | 15 Jan (listed) | Dublin to Glenmalure, Wicklow | Night walk and run |
| Glen of Aherlow Winter Walking Festival | 29 to 31 Jan (expected) | Tipperary | Walking |
| Dublin Racing Festival, Leopardstown | 30 to 31 Jan (confirmed) | Dublin | Racing |
| Six Nations, Ireland v England | 5 Feb (confirmed) | Dublin | Rugby |
| Ennis Book Club Festival | 5 to 7 March (confirmed) | Ennis, Clare | Books |
| Home of St Patrick Festival | 10 to 17 March (expected) | Armagh and Downpatrick | Tradition |
| Six Nations, Ireland v France | 13 March (confirmed) | Dublin | Rugby |
| St Patrick's Festival | 13 to 17 March (confirmed) | Dublin and nationwide | Tradition |
| Causeway Coast and Glens Walking Festival | Mid March (expected) | Antrim coast | Walking |
| Easter weekend and Fairyhouse Easter Festival | 26 to 29 March (confirmed) | Nationwide, racing in Meath | Holiday |
Winter is quiet on the trails. Dublin is the only place that fills up, on Six Nations weekends and around St Patrick's Day. If you want a city break before a Wicklow Way walk, avoid those three weekends.
April 2027
| Event | Dates | Where | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wander Wild Festival | 9 to 11 April (confirmed) | Killarney | Walking and outdoor |
| Women's Six Nations, Ireland v France | 17 April (confirmed) | Galway | Rugby |
| Achill Camino Challenge | Mid April (expected) | Achill, Mayo | Walking |
| Cúirt International Festival of Literature | 20 to 25 April (to be confirmed) | Galway | Books |
| Connemarathon | 25 April (confirmed) | Connemara | Running |
| Punchestown Festival | 27 April to 1 May (confirmed) | Kildare | Racing |
| Féile na Bealtaine | 30 April to 3 May (expected) | Dingle | Arts and trad |
| Strokestown International Poetry Festival | 30 April to 2 May (expected) | Strokestown, Roscommon | Books |
April is one of our favourite months to walk. The gorse is out and the roads are empty. Killarney gets busy for Wander Wild, but it is a walker's festival, so you will be in good company.
May 2027
| Event | Dates | Where | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| May bank holiday weekend | 1 to 3 May (Republic and Northern Ireland) | Nationwide | Holiday |
| Kerry Camino, Slieve Bloom and Connemara walking festivals | 1 to 3 May (expected) | Kerry, Laois, Galway | Walking |
| Belfast City Marathon and Great Limerick Run | 2 May (confirmed) | Belfast and Limerick | Running |
| Women's Six Nations, Ireland v England | 8 May (confirmed) | Dublin | Rugby |
| Killarney Races, May meeting | 9 to 11 May (confirmed) | Killarney | Racing |
| North West 200 | 11 to 15 May (confirmed) | Portrush, Portstewart, Coleraine | Motorcycle racing |
| International Literature Festival Dublin | Mid to late May (expected) | Dublin | Books |
| Burren in Bloom | All month (expected) | The Burren | Nature walks |
| Northern Ireland spring bank holiday | 31 May | Northern Ireland | Holiday |
The North West 200 is the one to watch. More than 100,000 fans come to the Causeway Coast and every bed in the Portrush triangle goes. If you want the Causeway Coast in May, walk it before the 10th or after the 16th.
June 2027
| Event | Dates | Where | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listowel Writers' Week | 2 to 6 June (confirmed) | Listowel, Kerry | Books |
| Borris House Festival of Writing and Ideas | 4 to 6 June (expected) | Borris, Carlow | Books |
| June bank holiday weekend, Bloom, Cat Laughs, Carlow Arts, Westport Folk and Bluegrass | 5 to 7 June (expected) | Dublin, Kilkenny, Carlow, Westport | Holiday and festivals |
| Dingle Adventure Race | 5 June (expected) | Dingle | Multisport |
| Cork City Marathon | 6 June (confirmed) | Cork | Running |
| Doolin Folk Festival | 11 to 13 June (confirmed) | Doolin, Clare | Music |
| Beyond the Pale | 11 to 13 June (listed, check organiser) | Glendalough Estate, Wicklow | Music |
| Jim Dowling Trad Festival | Mid June (expected) | Glengarriff, Beara | Trad |
| Bloomsday | 16 June | Dublin | Books |
| Dalkey Book Festival | 17 to 20 June (expected) | Dalkey, Dublin | Books |
| Táin International Hillwalking Festival | 19 to 20 June (expected) | Cooley Mountains, Louth | Walking |
| Down Royal Ulster Derby | 19 June (confirmed) | Lisburn, Down | Racing |
| West Cork Chamber Music Festival | 25 June to 4 July (confirmed) | Bantry | Music |
| Irish Derby, the Curragh | 25 to 27 June (confirmed) | Kildare | Racing |
| Fontaines D.C. at Slane Castle | 26 June (confirmed, subject to licence) | Slane, Meath | Music |
| Dublin Pride parade | 26 June (expected) | Dublin | Festival |
Bantry is the heart of the Sheep's Head Way. For ten days from late June the town hums with chamber music, and the hotels are full of musicians and audiences. It is a lovely time to be there, but book early or stay out on the peninsula.
July 2027
| Event | Dates | Where | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castlebar International Four Days' Walks | 1 to 4 July (confirmed) | Castlebar, Mayo | Walking |
| Amgen Irish Open | 1 to 4 July (confirmed) | The K Club, Kildare | Golf |
| Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy | 3 to 11 July (confirmed) | Miltown Malbay, Clare | Trad |
| Longitude | Early July (expected) | Marlay Park, Dublin | Music |
| Robbie Williams, Thomond Park | 6 to 7 July (confirmed) | Limerick | Music |
| Comeraghs Wild Festival | 8 to 11 July (expected) | Waterford | Walking and music |
| West Cork Literary Festival | 9 to 16 July (confirmed) | Bantry | Books |
| Twelfth of July | 12 July | Northern Ireland | Holiday |
| Killarney Races, July Festival | 12 to 16 July (confirmed) | Killarney | Racing |
| Galway International Arts Festival | 12 to 25 July (confirmed) | Galway | Arts |
| Fiddler's Green Festival | 14 to 18 July (expected) | Rostrevor, Mournes | Trad |
| Boyle Arts Festival | 15 to 24 July (listed) | Boyle, Roscommon | Arts |
| All Ireland hurling and football finals | 18 and 25 July (provisional) | Croke Park, Dublin | GAA |
| Reek Sunday, Croagh Patrick | 25 July | Westport, Mayo | Pilgrimage |
| Galway Races Summer Festival | 26 July to 1 Aug (confirmed) | Galway | Racing |
| All Together Now | 29 July to 1 Aug (confirmed) | Curraghmore, Waterford | Music |
| Castletownbere Festival of the Sea | Late July to early Aug (expected) | Castletownbere, Beara | Tradition |
July is the busiest month on the Burren Way. Willie Clancy week fills Miltown Malbay and spills into Doolin and Lahinch. Then Galway Race Week fills the whole west coast from Clifden to Ballyvaughan. Walk the Burren in June or September instead, or book a long way ahead.
August 2027
| Event | Dates | Where | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann | Early Aug (expected, 2026 ran 2 to 9 Aug) | Belfast | Trad |
| August bank holiday weekend | 31 July to 2 Aug | Republic of Ireland | Holiday |
| Heart of the Glens Festival | Early Aug (expected) | Cushendall, Antrim | Tradition |
| Kenmare Arts Festival | Early to mid Aug (expected) | Kenmare | Arts |
| KPMG Women's Irish Open | 2 to 8 Aug (confirmed) | Dun Laoghaire, Dublin | Golf |
| Kilkenny Arts Festival | 5 to 15 Aug (expected) | Kilkenny | Arts |
| Puck Fair | 10 to 12 Aug (annual) | Killorglin, Kerry | Tradition |
| Tramore Races August Festival | 12 to 15 Aug (confirmed) | Tramore, Waterford | Racing |
| Dingle Races | 13 to 15 Aug (expected, second weekend) | Dingle | Racing |
| Rose of Tralee International Festival | 13 to 17 Aug (provisional) | Tralee | Festival |
| Kenmare Fair Day | 15 Aug (annual) | Kenmare | Tradition |
| Harry Styles at Croke Park | 18, 20 and 21 Aug (confirmed) | Dublin | Music |
| Masters of Tradition | 18 to 22 Aug (listed) | Bantry | Trad |
| Killarney Races, August meeting | 19 to 21 Aug (confirmed) | Killarney | Racing |
| Graiguenamanagh Town of Books | 20 to 22 Aug (expected) | Graiguenamanagh, on the Barrow Way | Books |
| Electric Picnic | 27 to 29 Aug (confirmed, sold out) | Stradbally, Laois | Music |
| Ould Lammas Fair | Late Aug (expected, around the 30 Aug NI holiday) | Ballycastle, Antrim | Tradition |
| Donegal Camino | Late Aug to early Sept (expected) | Donegal | Walking |
Kerry in the second week of August is the hardest booking of the year. Puck Fair, the Rose of Tralee, Dingle Races and Kenmare Fair Day all land within six days. If you want the Dingle Way or the Kerry Way between 10 and 17 August, book by Christmas 2026. Or come in the first week of August, when it is far calmer.
September 2027
| Event | Dates | Where | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival | 1 to 30 Sept (annual, weekends busiest) | Lisdoonvarna, Clare | Tradition |
| Kerry Way Ultra | 3 to 4 Sept (listed) | Killarney and the Kerry Way | Trail running |
| Dingle Marathon | 4 Sept (confirmed, sold out) | Dingle | Running |
| Irish Champions Festival | 11 to 12 Sept (confirmed) | Leopardstown and the Curragh | Racing |
| Causeway Coast Marathon | 11 Sept (listed) | Causeway Coast | Running |
| Ryder Cup | 13 to 19 Sept (confirmed) | Adare Manor, Limerick | Golf |
| Laytown beach races | 13 Sept (confirmed) | Laytown, Meath | Racing |
| Wee Binnian Walkers Hillwalking Festival | Mid Sept (expected) | Warrenpoint, Down | Walking |
| Listowel Harvest Festival Races | 20 to 26 Sept (confirmed, moved for the Ryder Cup) | Listowel, Kerry | Racing |
| National Ploughing Championships | 21 to 23 Sept (confirmed) | Rathangan, Kildare | Festival |
| Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival | 24 to 26 Sept (expected) | Galway | Food |
| Skibbereen Walking Festival | Late Sept (expected) | Skibbereen, West Cork | Walking |
| National Walking Day | 26 Sept (expected) | Nationwide | Walking |
September is normally our favourite month in the south west. In 2027 it has a hole in the middle. Walk Kerry, Clare or West Cork in the first week, or from 20 September on, and you will have the trails to yourself again.
October to December 2027
| Event | Dates | Where | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dingle Food Festival | 1 to 3 Oct (expected, first weekend of October) | Dingle | Food |
| Carlow Autumn Walking Festival | 1 to 3 Oct (expected) | Blackstairs and Barrow Valley | Walking |
| Killarney Races, October meeting | 3 to 4 Oct (confirmed) | Killarney | Racing |
| Ballyhoura Walking Festival | Early Oct (expected) | Kilfinane, Limerick | Walking |
| Guinness Cork Jazz Festival | 21 to 25 Oct (expected, October bank holiday) | Cork | Music |
| Dublin Marathon and October bank holiday | 23 to 25 Oct (expected) | Dublin and nationwide | Running and holiday |
| Down Royal Festival of Racing | 29 to 30 Oct (confirmed) | Lisburn, Down | Racing |
| Dublin Book Festival | Early Nov (expected) | Dublin | Books |
| Dingle Literary Festival | 19 to 21 Nov (expected) | Dingle | Books |
| Other Voices | 26 to 28 Nov (expected) | Dingle | Music |
| Armagh Georgian Festival | Late Nov (expected) | Armagh | Festival |
| Leopardstown Christmas Festival | 26 to 29 Dec (confirmed) | Dublin | Racing |
Dingle in early October is a treat. The food festival fills the town with stalls and music, and the Dingle Way is still very walkable. Just do not expect a last minute room that weekend.
Bank holidays in Ireland 2027
Bank holiday weekends matter as much as any festival. Irish families head for the coast, and B&Bs in Dingle, Doolin and Carlingford fill with domestic visitors. Here are the bank holidays in Ireland 2027 for both the Republic and Northern Ireland.
| Holiday | Republic of Ireland | Northern Ireland |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Friday 1 January | Friday 1 January |
| St Brigid's Day | Monday 1 February | No holiday |
| St Patrick's Day | Wednesday 17 March | Wednesday 17 March |
| Good Friday | Not a public holiday, but widely observed | Friday 26 March |
| Easter Monday | Monday 29 March | Monday 29 March |
| May bank holiday | Monday 3 May | Monday 3 May |
| Spring bank holiday | No holiday | Monday 31 May |
| June bank holiday | Monday 7 June | No holiday |
| Twelfth of July | No holiday | Monday 12 July |
| August bank holiday | Monday 2 August | Monday 30 August |
| October bank holiday | Monday 25 October | No holiday |
| Christmas | Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 December | Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December |
Two more things to know. Irish schools break for summer from late June (secondary) and early July (primary) until the end of August. English schools break from around 22 July to 1 September. That is why late July and August are the peak weeks on every trail, festival or not.
Trail by trail: when to book early in 2027
Here is the practical version. Find your trail, note the dates, and either book early or pick a different week.
| Trail | Watch these 2027 dates | Our tip |
|---|---|---|
| Kerry Way | Killarney Races 9 to 11 May, 12 to 16 July, 19 to 21 Aug; Puck Fair 10 to 12 Aug; Kenmare Fair 15 Aug; Kerry Way Ultra 3 to 4 Sept; Ryder Cup 13 to 19 Sept | June and the last week of September are glorious and calm |
| Dingle Way | Kerry Camino 1 to 3 May; Rose of Tralee 13 to 17 Aug; Dingle Races mid Aug; Dingle Marathon 4 Sept; Ryder Cup 13 to 19 Sept; Dingle Food Festival 1 to 3 Oct | Late May and the first half of June are our pick |
| Beara Way | Castletownbere Festival of the Sea, late July to early Aug; Kenmare Arts Festival, early Aug; Ryder Cup spillover 13 to 19 Sept | Beara is the quiet peninsula; September outside Ryder Cup week is perfect |
| Sheep's Head Way | Chamber Music 25 June to 4 July; Literary Festival 9 to 16 July; Masters of Tradition 18 to 22 Aug | Stay out on the peninsula during Bantry festivals, or walk in May |
| Burren Way | Doolin Folk Festival 11 to 13 June; Willie Clancy 3 to 11 July; Galway Races 26 July to 1 Aug; Lisdoonvarna all September; Ryder Cup 13 to 19 Sept | May for the wildflowers, or early June |
| Wicklow Way | Six Nations 5 Feb and 13 March; Punchestown 27 April to 1 May; Beyond the Pale 11 to 13 June; All Ireland finals 18 and 25 July; Croke Park concerts 18 to 21 Aug; Dublin Marathon 24 Oct | Dublin hotels are the issue, not the trail; start on a weekday |
| Barrow Way | Borris Writing Festival 4 to 6 June; Carlow Arts, June bank holiday; Kilkenny Arts 5 to 15 Aug; Town of Books 20 to 22 Aug; Electric Picnic 27 to 29 Aug | The gentlest trail we offer; September is ideal |
| National Famine Way | Strokestown Poetry Festival, May bank holiday; Ploughing Championships 21 to 23 Sept near Kildare; Dublin events at the finish | Avoid finishing in Dublin on a match or concert weekend |
| Cooley and Mournes | Táin Hillwalking Festival 19 to 20 June; Fiddler's Green 14 to 18 July; 12 July; Wee Binnian mid Sept | Carlingford fills on every bank holiday; midweek starts are easy |
| Saint Patrick's Way | Home of St Patrick Festival 10 to 17 March; Ulster Derby 19 June; 12 July; Fleadh Belfast early Aug | Walk it in May or September for the best light and value |
| Causeway Coast and Glens | North West 200 11 to 15 May; 12 July; Fleadh Belfast early Aug; Heart of the Glens early Aug; Ould Lammas Fair late Aug; Causeway Coast Marathon 11 Sept | Late May after the races, or the first half of September |
Walking festival or self guided walking holiday?
Both are good. They are just different. A walking festival gives you a guide, a group and a packed social calendar. You sleep in the same bed every night and get bussed to each walk. A self guided walking holiday gives you the whole trail, end to end, at your own pace. We book your handpicked B&Bs, move your luggage every day, and give you GPS route maps and 24 hour local support.
Many of our guests do both. They try a region at a festival one year, then come back to walk the full trail the next. If that is you, the two best pairings in 2027 are Wander Wild in April followed by the Kerry Way, and Castlebar in July followed by the Connemara hills.
How we handle busy dates
When you send us an enquiry, we check every village on your route against our provider calendar before we confirm anything. If a date clashes with one of the events above, we tell you. Then we offer a fix: a start a few days earlier, a night in a neighbouring village, or a different trail that is quiet that week. Our aim is simple. You should never arrive at a B&B that does not exist for you that night.
For 2027 our rule of thumb is this. Book by the end of February for any walk in July, August or September. Book by the end of 2026 for Ryder Cup week and the second week of August in Kerry. For May, June and October, three months ahead is usually fine.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to walk in Ireland in 2027?
For most trails, late May to mid June, or September outside the Ryder Cup week. You get long days, mild weather and far fewer visitors than July and August. Read our month by month guide for the detail.
Will the Ryder Cup 2027 affect my walking holiday?
Only if you walk in Limerick, Kerry, Clare, Tipperary or Cork between 10 and 20 September 2027. Accommodation in those counties is already scarce for that week. Wicklow, the Barrow Valley, the Midlands and Northern Ireland are not affected.
Which walking festivals in Ireland 2027 have confirmed dates?
So far, Wander Wild in Killarney (9 to 11 April) and the Castlebar International Four Days' Walks (1 to 4 July). The rest follow a fixed pattern, such as a bank holiday weekend, so the expected dates in this guide are reliable. We will mark them confirmed as organisers publish.
Do I need to book a walking festival in advance?
Yes. Most festivals ask you to register for each walk, and the popular A grade walks fill first. Accommodation near the festival base goes quickly too, especially in Castlebar and Killarney.
Where is Fleadh Cheoil 2027?
Belfast, for the second year running. Comhaltas has confirmed the city but not the dates. The 2026 Fleadh ran from 2 to 9 August, so expect early August again. Belfast hotels will be full, which affects anyone starting the Causeway Coast or Saint Patrick's Way from the city.
Can I still find accommodation during the Galway Races?
In Galway city, rarely. On the Burren Way, sometimes, but you will pay more. If your heart is set on the Burren in late July, book in winter. Otherwise walk it in June or September.
Plan your 2027 walk
The festivals in Ireland 2027 give you a hundred reasons to come. The busy dates give you a few reasons to plan. Pick your trail, check the table above, and get in touch. We will tell you honestly whether your dates work, and find you the quiet week if they do not.
Ready to start? Browse our self guided walking holidays, or drop us a message. We would love to help you find your week on the trail.
All expected dates are based on the 2026 pattern and were checked on 15 October 2026. We update this page as organisers confirm their 2027 dates. Always check the official festival website before you travel.
