Kildare Brigid festival kickstarts the new year
Athy band, Picture This
KILDARE County Council has announced a vibrant five-day celebration of music, art, conversation and family-friendly events taking place across County Kildare from Thursday, 29 January to Monday, 2 February 2026.
Brigid 2026 brings together leading Irish and international artists across a range of disciplines. This year’s ticketed concert series, the Spirit of Kildare Sessions, will feature standout performances from Jack L, Picture This, Gurriers, Celine Byrne, Paul Noonan, Gemma Hayes, Lisa Hannigan, Altan and more, hosted in unique venues throughout the county.
The festival opens on Thursday, 29 January, with Kildare native Jack L hosting an evening of songs and stories at Christ Church, Celbridge, drawing on a three-decade career that has seen him share stages with artists including Sting, Jools Holland and Trevor Horn.
The festival also sees Picture This return home for a sold-out performance at the Dreamland Ballroom, Athy, while the Gurriers take to the festival hub stage – in the Spiegeltent at Cruinniú Chill Dara, Áras Chill Dara, Naas.
On Saturday 31 January, internationally acclaimed soprano and Kildare native Celine Byrne will perform a rare and intimate concert at St Brigid’s Cathedral, Kildare Town. Paul Noonan, Gemma Hayes and Lisa Hannigan will also unite as The Trio for a special performance at Cruinniú Chill Dara, bringing together three of Ireland’s most celebrated musicians for an unforgettable night of Irish music.
The Spirit of Kildare Sessions continue on Monday, 2 February, with legendary traditional Irish band Altan performing at the Naas Venue, led by renowned fiddle player Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh.
Alongside music, Brigid 2026 also features incredible podcasters. A special live recording of The Blindboy Podcast will take place at Cruinniú Chill Dara on Saturday, 31January, bringing one of Ireland’s most influential podcasters and authors to the festival hub. Ireland’s number one bilingual podcast, How To Gael, hosted by Doireann Ní Ghlacáin and Louise Cantillon, will also present a live show on Monday, 2 February.
Family-friendly events form a key part of the festival programme. Highlights include Bee is for Bríd with the Green Grannies on Saturday morning at Cruinniú Chill Dara, alongside a sustainable bee costume workshop, and Fireside Stories with Volkidana in Maynooth, a visually spectacular storytelling experience blending puppetry, aerial artistry and folklore.
Sunday morning sees a Taylor Swift Party for younger audiences at Cruinniú Chill Dara, while Carrying Her Flame, a powerful outdoor procession through the streets of Kildare Town, takes place later that day, marking the return of the light and the end of winter.
Rounding out the family programme, Joe the Magician Beo from RTÉjr will perform a high-energy magic show for children on Monday, 2 February at Cruinniú Chill Dara.
All children’s events taking place in Naas are free to attend, with advance booking required. A mix of free and ticketed events ensures the festival remains accessible to all audiences.
For tickets, event details and the full Brigid 2026 - Spirit of Kildare Festival programme, visit www.spiritofbrigid.ie
