Brigid Festival brings 50,000 people to Kildare's big party
The Carrying her Flame A Fiery Display in The Square Kildare Photo: Jimmy Fullam
THE Brigid 2026 ‘Spirit of Kildare Festival’ has concluded following a hugely successful five-day programme that welcomed over 50,000 people to 65 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.
Alongside its cultural impact, Brigid 2026 provided a significant boost to tourism, supporting local businesses, and reinforced 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 (Filthy Dog), as part of the council’s dedicated Irish culture day on 2 February.
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.
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.
