Dingle Festival & Events Guide 2025
What's on in Dingle?
Dingle is home to numerous festivals and events spread throughout the year. The big annual events such as the award winning community arts festival Féile na Bealtaine, The Dingle Races, The Dingle Marathon, The Dingle Food & Wine Festival, The Dingle Walking Festival, The Animation Dingle Festival and ‘Other Voices’ Music Festival have all become favourite annual pilgrimages for many.
There really is something for everyone (for locals and visitors alike). Explore our calendar of events for 2025 below to see what appeals to you…
January - Dingle Festivals & Events
February - Dingle Festivals & Events
February 14th: Valentines Day
Romance fills the air in Dingle!
February 19th – 23rd: Scoil Cheoil An Earraigh – Traditional Music School
Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh is a 5 day Traditional Music School held in Ballyferriter on the Dingle Peninsula and includes singing and dancing workshops, concerts & sessions and much more. Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh not only gives people the opportunity to get a taste of the local music and song, but it gives people a chance to experience the richness of the Irish language here in the heart of the Kerry Gaeltacht.
Further information can be found on the official Scoil Cheoil An Earraigh website.
February 22nd – 23rd: Comórtas Peile Páidi O Sé’s – Gaelic Football Competition
The annual Páidí O Sé Gaelic football tournament takes place locally in the West Kerry Gaeltacht. It sees both men’s and ladies clubs locally, nationally and even internationally competing for honours each year.
Further information can be found on the official Comórtas Peile Páidí Ó Sé website.
TBA: Dingle Peninsula Storm Festival
A varied programme of walks, talks, trips and songs – all with a blustery theme – takes place around the Dingle Peninsula. Plenty entertainment for the kids too with car treasure hunts, etc.
March - Dingle Festivals & Events
March 21st – 22nd: Animation Dingle Festival
The hugely successful Animation Dingle Festival is made up of conferences, screenings, workshops, and Student Animation Awards, where industry and third level participants join together to celebrate the creativity & excellence of the best in class of Irish & International animation content. The festival hopes to offer students a global perspective on the art of developing, financing, and producing animated content, for screens both big and small, with beautiful Dingle as a dramatic backdrop.
Further information can be found on the official Animation Dingle website.
March 17th: St. Patrick’s Day Festival
Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations in Dingle get off to a magical early start at 6a.m., as in keeping with a long standing tradition, Dingle’s Fife and Drum band lead the townspeople on a musical parade around Dingle Town. The parade finishes up in St. Mary’s Parish Church where an early morning mass is celebrated.
Then at 12:30p.m. the main multi-coloured Saint Patrick’s Day parade starts from Ashmount Terrace and follows a traditional route through the streets of Dingle to joyous cheers. Of course the celebrations won’t end there – the music, song, dancing and laughter will continue long into the night in the various establishments throughout Dingle Town!
April - Dingle Festivals & Events
April TBA: Féile Ceoil Bhaile na nGall
An Irish festival based on the traditions of the Dingle Peninsula / Corca Dhuibhne. The best of musicians, singers, poets, dancers and Irish speakers from both the Dingle Peninsula and further afield will gather for a unique celebration of our heritage.
Further information can be found on the official Féile Ceoil Bhaile na nGall website.
April TBA: Cloghane Brandon Hillwalking and Music Festival
Looking for something a bit different for the Easter Bank Holiday weekend? Look no further than the Dingle Peninsula where the Cloghane Brandon Hillwalking and Music Festival takes place. The festival features a packed programme of events, set in the majestic surroundings of Ireland’s second highest peak, Mount Brandon. There is something on offer for everyone – families, casual walkers, avid hillwalkers, history and archaeology buffs, music lovers, etc.
Further information can be found on the official Cloghane Brandon Hillwalking and Music Festival website.
TBA: Dingle International Film Festival
A unique, ground breaking, inclusive and inspiring event for up-and-coming and established filmmakers and a broad audience. Further information can be found on the official Dingle International Film Festival website.
April 18th – 20th: Easter Bank and Public Holiday Weekend
April 19th: Pilgrim Path – Irish Pilgrim Journey / Cosán na Naoimh
Easter Saturday is designated as National Pilgrim Path’s Day. You are invited on a guided walk along some (or all) of the ancient pilgrim path of Cosán na Naomh or Saints’ Road. The 18km (11 mile) panaromic route goes from Ventry Strand to the grotto at the foot of Brandon Mountain. The route winds its way among the fuchsia-hedged fields between the sea and the mountains and takes in many heritage sites along the way including Gallarus Oratory and Kilmalkedar Church along with a host of other historical artifacts including ogham stones, a holy well dedicated to St Brendan, a bullaun, etc.
Further information can be found on the official Pilgrim Path website.
April 26th: Ride Dingle Cycle Event
120km and 55km cycle routes on the majestic Dingle Peninsula and Slea Head Drive and encapsulating Ireland’s legendary highest mountain pass, Conor Pass. All in support of local charities in and around the Dingle Peninsula.
Further information can be found on the official Ride Dingle website.
May - Dingle Festivals & Events
May 1st – 4th: May Bank and Public Holiday Weekend
April 30th – 4th: Féile na Bealtaine – Music & Arts Festival
Féile na Bealtaine is Dingle’s largest arts festival. The festival celebrates the arrival of summer. Féile na Bealtaine aspires to build on the rich arts and culture that exists on the Dingle Peninsula and to extend and broaden our artistic horizons – above all to entertain and to invigorate. The traditional arts of storytelling, song, music, and dance as well as contemporary visual arts and literature are key elements of the festival. Fun for all ages is guaranteed!
Further information can be found on the official Féile na Bealtaine website.
May 4th: Ballinclare Fair Day – Ireland’s Oldest Sheep & Horse Fair
Ballinclare horse fair in Annascaul is said to be the oldest sheep & horse fair in Ireland. As well as livestock there is plenty to entertain visitors, including children’s entertainment, a pet show, stalls selling merchandise and live music in and around the local pubs. People come from all over Ireland and gather to enjoy the atmosphere of the day and buy and sell animals.
The fair takes place on the first Sunday of May and the first Sunday of October each year. Great fun for all the family
May 4th: Star Wars – ‘May the Fourth’ Festival
In the small Dingle Peninsula village of Ballyferriter, an epic event happened! In 2016 Lucas Film Ltd. arrived to start filming Episode VIII, The Last Jedi and continue the story of Luke and Rey on Ach-To. This headland called Ceann Sibeál was the perfect place to recreate the monastic settlement of Skellig Michael, featured at the end of Episode VII, The Force Awakens.
So come join us and have your lightsabers at the ready for the Wild Atlantic Way Jedi-friendly festival. May the 4th be with you!
May 10th: Darkness into Light
Join the local community of the Dingle Peninsula before dawn and walk or run for 5km to meet the sunrise. All monies raised go to support Pieta House / suicide prevention.
May 23rd – 25th: Outwest Fest
A unique outdoor festival celebrating the Irish outdoors. Further information can be found on the official Outwest Fest website.
June - Dingle Festivals & Events
May 30th – June 1st: June Bank and Public Holiday Weekend
TBA June 2026: Dingle Adventure Race
The Dingle Adventure Race (DAR) is a one day Multi Activity Adventure Race consisting of 3 courses of Bike, Hike, Run and Kayak. Test yourself and have fun while you explore the stunning Dingle Peninsula! There are 3 options to the Dingle Adventure Race:
DAR: The 30 mile/ 48km You bike over the Connor Pass, hike or run Ireland’s second highest mountain range. Mt. Brandon, run 10km and sea kayak in Dingle Harbour.
DAR Sport: 26 mile/ 42km but less than half the climbing of DAR course, 1km sea kayak in double sit on tops, bike around Slea Head, hike or run Mt Eagle and bike back to Dingle via Ventry.
DAR Mini: 1km run to kayak, 1km sea kayak in double sit on tops, 8km cycle to Ventry, 5km run Ventry beach, 7 km cycle to Dingle, final 1km run to finish.
Further information can be found on the official Dingle Adventure Race website.
TBA: Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Yacht Race
The Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Yacht Race is a bi-annual 280 mile offshore race organised by the National Yacht Club Dun Laoghaire and Cumann Badoiri Naomh Bhreannain since 1993. This is a tough upwind race which is a test of crew and boats which passes some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in Ireland.
TBA: Ventry Regatta
The Ventry Regatta’s annual naomhóg racing is held just west of Dingle Town in the picturesque setting that is Ventry Harbour. Ventry Regatta is one of Ireland’s oldest regattas and is renowned in song and story, particularly in the classic writings of the great Blasket Island authors. Side events such as a Feis, horse shoe throwing, sandcastle building and children’s entertainment also feature.
TBA: Baile na nGall (Ballydavid) Regatta
The Baile na nGall (Ballydavid) Regatta Regatta’s annual naomhóg racing is held just west of Dingle Town in this picturesque West Kerry Gaeltacht fishing village.
July - Dingle Festivals & Events
TBA: Béal Bán Horse Races
The annual Béal Bán Horse Races are held on the beach beside Ballyferriter village just west of Dingle. A great day of fun is always guaranteed on the shores of Dingle Peninsula’s Smerwick Harbour.
TBA: Maharees Regatta
The Maharees Regatta’s annual naomhóg racing is held just north of Dingle Town in the scenic Scraggane Bay. The regatta attracts crews from counties Galway and Clare as well as local crews from all around the Dingle Peninsula. Further information can be found on the official Maharees Regatta website.
TBA: Féile Lughnasa (Festival of Lughnasa)
Féile Lughnasa (Festival of Lughnasa) is a revival of an ancient pre-Christian celebration of the harvest that is held annually just north of Dingle Town in the Cloghane/Brandon region. This is a community based festival that features music, street theatre, a treasure hunt, and art workshops.
TBA: West Kerry Agricultural Show
West Kerry’s annual Agricultural Show takes place in Dingle Town. The agricultural show features cattle, sheep, and horses as well as arts, crafts, cookery displays and showjumping for children.
August - Dingle Festivals & Events
Aug 1st – 3rd: August Bank and Public Holiday Weekend
Aug 1st – 3rd: Féile Lios Póil Community Festival
Féile Lios Póil (Lispole) is held just east of Dingle Town in the quaint village of Lispole. The festival features something for all ages, including arts, crafts, Irish dancing, a table quiz, a car treasure hunt, gaeilic football competitions, tug of war competitions, athletics, hill race and hill walking.
August 8th – 9th: Dingle Horse Races
The Dingle Races is one of Ireland’s oldest horse race meetings and holds a deep and proud tradition. The Dingle Horse Races is Ireland’s biggest flapper meeting. Set in a most scenic location, the magnificent Ballintaggart Course enjoys a spectacular panoramic view of both Dingle Bay and Dingle Harbour and is an ideal venue for a family outing.
Many well-known personalities and politicians have visited the Dingle Horse Races over the years including Ted Kennedy, Bob Dole, Julia Roberts, Aiden McGuire, Charlie Haughey, Alan Dukes, Mary Black, JP McManus, and Bertie Ahern.
Further information can be found on the official Dingle Races website.
August TBA: Brandon Regatta
The Brandon Regatta is held just north of Dingle Town in Brandon village. Brandon regatta is a series of traditional curragh (boat) races with many different categories. Contesting boat teams travel right up the west coast of the Dingle Peninsula. Winners and losers alike celebrate with music and song afterwards.
August TBA: Dingle Regatta
The Dingle Regatta’s annual naomhóg racing is Kerry’s biggest naomhóg racing event. Crews from all over Ireland come to Dingle Town to race their rivals in the placid waters of Dingle Bay. Music and song is always abundant in Dingle Town for the regatta.
August TBA: La Solitaire du Figaro Yacht Race
The very prestigious La Solitaire du Figaro international single-handed yacht race will again be including Dingle as a stage venue for this year’s event. The 1,898-nautical mile race between France, Spain, and Ireland is regarded as one of the toughest yachting events in Europe and over three weeks proves a real test of skill and endurance for the competing sailors. The Dingle stop-off brings some of Europe’s top sailors to West Kerry. Each year the race is a highly successful and memorable occasion that creates a wonderful festival atmosphere in Dingle Town. The crews will be based in Dingle Town for four days.
September - Dingle Festivals & Events
September 6th: The Dingle Marathon – Ireland’s Most Scenic Marathon
The award winning Dingle Half Marathon (13.1 miles) and Dingle Full Marathon (26.2 miles) marathon traverse the spectacular Dingle Peninsula. This is a ‘must do’ event in one of Ireland’s must beautiful locations on Slea Head with the course designed for runners and walkers to enjoy its breath taking scenery and beautiful rugged coastline. This is the only day in the year when vehicular traffic is removed from Slea Head immersing runners in the natural beauty of the Dingle Peninsula on the Wild Atlantic Way.
Dingle town comes alive this weekend with an incredible atmosphere and good times guaranteed all weekend. The Dingle Marathon is not just a marathon; it is the experience of a lifetime. Many seasoned international runners have described the Dingle Marathon as simply the best that they have experienced in the entire world. The unique “Dingle vibe” is very difficult for us to explain but once you’ve experienced it you’ll never forget it!.
Further information can be found on the official Dingle Marathon website.
September TBA: Dingle Walking Festival
The Dingle Walking Festival takes full advantage of the idyllic Dingle Peninsula environment and the many ancient monastic and archaeological sites on the peninsula over the coarse of its three day walking festival with a wide range of easy, moderate, strenuous, and very strenuous walks planned over the course of the weekend.
Further information can be found on the official Dingle Walking Festival website.
October - Dingle Festivals & Events
October 3rd – 5th: Dingle Peninsula Food and Wine Festival
Locals call it ‘The Best Weekend of the Year’. Dingle comes alive as people flock to the town from far and wide to experience this wonderful festival.
Highlights of the festival include cookery demonstrations, food trail, over 50 market stalls, workshops, street entertainment, children’s events, wine tastings, and much much more.
Far and away the most popular part of the festival is ‘The Taste Trail‘. Festival goers purchase a book of taste trail tickets and can then visit over 70 venues around the town offering tastings of the best food and drink the Peninsula has to offer.
Further information can be found on the official Dingle Peninsula Food and Wine Festival website.
October 5th: Ballinclare Fair Day – Ireland’s Oldest Sheep & Horse Fair
Ballinclare horse fair in Annascaul is said to be the oldest sheep & horse fair in Ireland. As well as livestock there is plenty to entertain visitors, including children’s entertainment, a pet show, stalls selling merchandise and live music in and around the local pubs. People come from all over Ireland and gather to enjoy the atmosphere of the day and buy and sell animals.
The fair takes place on the first Sunday of May and the first Sunday of October each year. Great fun for all the family.
October TBA: Dingle Folk Festival – Féile Cheoil na nDaoine
The Dingle Peninsula is renowned all over the world for it’s Irish traditional and folk music scene so where better to come for a weekend of musical celebration. There will be a number center-piece concerts as well as session trails taking place over the weekend and a late-night festival club keeping the music going into the wee hours.
Further information can be found on the official Dingle Folk Festival website.
October 24th – 26th: October Bank and Public Holiday Weekend (Halloween)
October TBA: Blessing of Dingle’s Fishing Fleet (Maritime Festival)
The annual blessing of the boats ceremony gets underway at St. Mary’s Parish Church where Dingle’s Fife and Drum band lead a parade down to Dingle pier. A multi-coloured spectacle awaits the marchers as all fishing vessels, pleasure boats, Fungi boats, and yachts are decked out in flags and buntings. Mass is celebrated on the pier and then the boats form a procession out to Dingle’s harbour mouth where a wreath is laid on the placid waters of Dingle Bay in honor of the many who have lost their lives at sea over the years.
November - Dingle Festivals & Events
November TBA: Tommy Griffins Over 35’s Gaelic Football Festival
A galaxy of former inter-county stars converge in Dingle for the annual Tommy Griffin over-35s gaelic football tournament with all proceeds going to a worthy cause. A fun and nostalgic weekend is assured.
November TBA: An Fhéile Bheag Filíochta – Poetry Festival
The annual Féile Bheag Filíochta poetry festival is held in Ballyferriter. With a wide range of high calibre speakers, this popular winter festival brightens up the mind with lectures, readings and workshops, and good natured open mic events.
Further information can be found on the official An Fhéile Bheag Filíochta website.
November 21st – 23rd: Dingle Literary Festival
‘Dingle Lit’ is a 3 day festival that aims to celebrate and enhance the cultural and economic life of the Dingle Peninsula, already widely known for its creativity. The festival is focused on the literary arts – fiction, poetry and non-fiction in English and Irish – delivered through readings, workshops and performance. In 2020, the festival was honoured to have the President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, attend as of the festival’s keynote speakers.
Further information can be found on the official Dingle Literary Festival website.
November TBA: Ireland’s Edge – Global Discussions & Performances Live from Dingle
Ireland’s Edge, the multidisciplinary series from the creative minds behind Other Voices and South Wind Blows, will be returning, both in-person and online to present Ireland’s Edge featuring a host of global topical discussions and performances live from Dingle, Co Kerry.
Further information can be found on the official Ireland’s Edge website.
November 28th – 30th: ‘Other Voices’ Music Festival
Three day festival of music, song and story which see’s many top performers making the musical pilgrimage to Dingle. Other Voices has come from small beginnings to now being a must-play gig for top tier musicians. The Other Voices festival is fortunate to have featured performances from some of best global talent down through the years including Amy Winehouse, David Gray, Hozier, Snow Patrol, The National, and Glen Hansard to name but a few.
Further information can be found on the official Other Voices website.
December - Dingle Festivals & Events
December TBA: Féile na Soilse / Festival of Lights
Dingle becomes illuminated with the spirit of Christmas as the people of the Dingle Peninsula come together to celebrate the festival of lights, Féile na Soilse. As day turns to dusk, children from all over the Dingle Peninsula parade through Dingle town with their personally crafted lanterns led by spirited sounds of the Dingle Fife & Drum Band, after which the Christmas tree and lights are turned on by a mystery celebrity. The Dingle Farmers’ Market and the Christmas Craft Fair also adds to the festivities.
December 25th: Christmas Day
Probably the only day in the year when Dingle falls silent as families takes some time out and enjoy the seasonal festivities.
December 26th: Wren’s Day
Dingle Wren boys take to the street in a blaze of colour continuing an unique and unbroken folk tradition that was for many centuries practised in most parts of Europe. The Dingle Wren is a memorable day of marching, music and dance. Dingle Town is a hive of activity as Dingle’s Wren Boys bring an explosion of colour and boisterous exuberance that is welcome in the midst of winter’s gloom.
December 31st: New Year’s Eve Fire Work Display & Celebration
Dingle is frequently featured as one of the top destination, not only in Ireland, but in the world, in which to celebrate New Year’s Eve. New Years Eve visitors and revelers can delight in a huge celebration on the streets of Dingle to welcome in the New Year….it begins with a spectacular fireworks display over the waters of Dingle Bay at 10pm, then a little later Dingle’s much celebrated Fife and Drum band marches through the streets and leads the thousands of revelers in music and song to “The Bridge” for the beginning of the countdown to the New Year. A truly authentic and unforgettable experience.
The Dingle Peninsula Tourism group publish an updated event calendar on a regular basis. Keep an eye on their Event Guide page of their website for further information.