TradFest, Dublin’s celebration of traditional Irish music, is set to return in 2026. However, this time, it will extend beyond its typical home in the Dublin City and Fingal areas. Locations in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown have been selected to join the list of prestigious venues hosting the premier festival of all things trad music and culture.
The Purty Kitchen, Walters, and the National Maritime Museum, spread across Dun Laoghaire and Monkstown, have all been selected to host music and the arts during this January’s edition of TradFest. It is an exciting time for residents along the south Dublin coast, opening up a new frontier for the festival to grow into.
TradFest’s Growth Signals Rising Interest in Irish Culture
Traditional Irish culture is being kept alive on the island in numerous ways, from legislation governing the use of the language across public life to the funding of channels like TG4 and the promotion of traditional music and culture through events like TradFest. However, it’s not only at home that Irish culture is being appreciated through the arts.
Our national stories and iconography are regular inclusions in everything from film to online casino games. The latter is particularly notable, as Irish culture has become a common theme in slots in particular. Take a look at any online casino in Ireland or abroad, and you will find games like 9 Pots of Gold and Leprechaun Charms, which are heavily influenced by old folk tales.
Although these retellings or depictions of folk figures and narratives may not exactly match their origins, they show that there are many people who appreciate the influences that our country has produced. But it’s not just our tales that have been modernised for a global audience; our traditional music has seen itself become entwined with new styles.
Traditional Music Goes Pop for Chart-Topping Stars
Irish music is experiencing a hot streak. Fontaines D.C. and CMAT have scored number-ones around the world, and they have both managed to incorporate elements of traditional music and the Irish language to great success. Ciara Thompson’s “Euro-Country”, a top 10 single here in Ireland, begins with a verse sung entirely in Irish. At the same time, Fontaines’ “In ár gCroíthe go deo” introduced the world to one of our tongue’s most beautiful phrases.
Those are just two of the artists paying homage to their homeland’s cultural history with music. The Scratch have successfully infused traditional Irish instruments into their heavy-metal-inspired output, becoming one of the most popular hard rock bands in Europe. The Dublin act even toured alongside fellow Celtic punk-rockers The Dropkick Murphys in 2025.
Many of these acts have enraptured audiences all over the world, successfully breaking into both the UK and American markets. This is just another example of how traditional Irish culture is being presented to new audiences in a modern manner, introducing millions to the beauty of what it has historically meant to be part of the Irish community.
A Bumper Festival for Traditional Music Lovers in Ireland
2026 is set to be a huge year for TradFest, with talent like Niamh Regan and Peggie Seeger making their way to venues such as The Cobblestone and St Patrick’s Cathedral to wow crowds. It is the biggest event in the history of the festival, which has grown to become the first major crowd draw at the start of every year in the capital.
Adding more venues to the list, especially in an area like Dun Laoghaire, which has easy access from County Wicklow and further afield, is an impressive feat. It is a signal of this festival’s ambition to become a defining feature of Dublin’s cultural calendar, an achievement that would be celebrated well beyond the capital.
