Big & Small - The Best St. Patrick's Day Celebrations Across Ireland [2026]

With St. Patrick's weekend upon us, we've compiled a list of the best festivities you can attend - from big to small, Sneem to Dublin!

Galway

St Patrick’s Day parade in 2026 will be the largest St Patrick’s Day spectacle the city has ever seen. Galway City Council have organised a series of events over the course of the bank holiday weekend to celebrate Ireland’s national holiday.

The St Patrick’s Festival parade in Galway on March 17th will mark the highlight of a 3 day celebration of Irish culture and will serve as a platform to showcase the creativity of local artists and community groups. The parade starts at 11.30am and runs through Galway city centre for over 1 hour. The parade will see up to 3000 participants taking part in what will be a colourful spectacle throughout the city centre. The event aims to celebrate Galway’s diverse culture and talent through an inclusive programme of events. Expect many additional events to be held throughout the city over the bank holiday weekend.

Dingle

Dingle’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations kick-start at the crack of dawn at 6am when Dingle’s Fife and Drum Band take to the streets in keeping with a long tradition which is usually supported by hundreds of enthusiastic followers.

The band march from the Old Hospital, around the town, waking up young and old but also bringing a magical start to the day.

A 6:30am stop at St. Mary’s Church where Mass is offered by the local parish priest for the band who provide various tunes during the ceremony.

The morning session finishes around at 7:30am at Ashmount Terrace with Amhrán na bhFiann.

The main St. Patrick's Day parade is scheduled to start at 12:30pm from Ashmount Terrace and follow the traditional route through the streets of the town. Passing through Goat Street, Main Street, The Mall, Bridge Street, Strand Street, turning at the Quay and returning to the Old Hospital via Green Street and Goat Street.

Kilkenny

Celebrate Irish music, culture and creativity with a Big Festival in a Small City this St. Patrick's Festival weekend in Kilkenny's medieval city. Family fun events, American Marching Bands, live music, St. Patrick's Day Parade and more!

We’re inviting you to Come Together in Kilkenny this March for St. Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny 2026! Celebrate Ireland’s national holiday in the heart of Ireland’s Ancient East with a BIG FESTIVAL IN A SMALL CITY. Enjoy several days of festival fun, March 14th – 17th, with American Marching Bands, Street Entertainment, Funfair, Festival Market, Children’s Shows, Workshops, Live Music, Kilkenny Tradfest music festival, special events and of course the St. Patrick’s Day Parade!

There is no better place to experience St. Patrick’s weekend in Ireland!

Sneem

Ireland’s most unique St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Fair Day returns to Sneem! Enjoy animals, market stalls, street entertainment and a bustling village atmosphere. The colourful parade kicks off at 1pm, don’t miss it!

Big spirit, small village! Sneem is turning up the green for St. Patrick’s Day with a high-energy parade packed with colour, music, and pure Kerry craic. Expect bold floats, brilliant local characters, and a buzzing village atmosphere as we celebrate in true Sneem style. Grab the gang, throw on something green, and join the fun.

This is one parade you won’t want to miss!

Killarney

We are once again very much looking forward to welcoming everyone to the streets of Killarney for our St Patrick’s Festival, from March 14th to 17th, 2026.

Celebrating Killarney, a timeless world of natural beauty and all that it has to offer year round, our theme for this year’s parade is ‘Echoes of Killarney Present’ showcasing Killarney's bustling tourist town that we are nowadays, the lakes, the mountains & present day characters.

Help us to make St. Patrick’s Day 2026 the biggest celebration Killarney can put on show. Make it visual, make it noisy, create a performance, but most of all have fun, lots of fun.

On March 15th we are happy to welcome AbleFest, Ireland’s only festival dedicated to those with additional needs. This one-of-a-kind event is a celebration of inclusivity, creativity and joy, offering a magical experience for attendees of all ages and abilities.

Bray

Bray is ready for the 2026 St. Patrick’s Festival, returning with an extensive programme of events! This year, we are proud to honour our heritage and community spirit with a high-energy celebration of cultural diversity. From Friday, March 13th to Wednesday, March 18th, Bray will be buzzing with excitement. This year’s festival offers six days of non-stop family fun, from the legendary parade to high-energy gigs and seafront thrills. Dive into the festive atmosphere and join a unique wellness activity and an insightful historical walk.

Sligo

The St. Patricks Day Festival 2026 boasts a number of amazing acts, activities and events taking place across Sligo Town, including our Parade with the theme of Queen Maeve and promises a festival of myth, magic and music.

The Parade will start at 12pm on St Patricks Day on Mail Coach Rd, travelling around the town and finishing on Teeling St.

Newbridge

The Newbridge St. Patrick’s Day Parade will start at 11:45 AM, and it’s set to be their biggest one yet! With over 70 different elements and floats taking part, the parade will be a vibrant, multicultural celebration, showcasing the diverse cultures that make up the Newbridge community. This year’s event promises to be a true reflection of the town’s rich diversity and inclusivity.

Celbridge

Celbridge, the birthplace of the legendary Arthur Guinness, will host a spectacular St. Patrick’s Day Parade at 2:30 PM. Experience a fun-filled traditional St. Patrick's Day Parade in Historic Celbridge, just a short distance from Dublin.

This year’s parade proudly welcomes the iconic Ohio State University Marching Band, joining us directly from the Dublin parade, courtesy of our friends at Celtic Horizon Tours.

Highlights:

Authentic Irish Parade: Experience the true spirit of St. Patrick's Day in Celbridge.

International Marching Bands: This year’s parade proudly welcomes the iconic Ohio State University Marching Band — known as “The Best Damn Band in the Land” (TBDBITL) — direct from the main Dublin parade.

FREE Pre-Parade Concert: Join us on the main street from 2:30 PM to 3:45 PM for live music and entertainment.

Children's Entertainment: Enjoy free face-painting, balloon sculpting, and meet beloved characters like Spongebob, Peppa Pig, and Mickey Mouse for photo opportunities.

Don't miss out on this unique celebration!

Athy

Athy’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place at 3:00 PM, with the theme “Community Spirit,” celebrating unity. The parade is a highlight of the local calendar, attracting thousands of visitors each year.

“Like many others, I always look forward to the St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Athy – the atmosphere is fantastic with thousands of people of all ages coming out to line the streets and celebrate as a community,” said Aoife Breslin, Cathaoirleach of Athy Municipal District and Chair of Athy Town Promoters.

“A lot of hard work goes into planning and running the festivities and we would like to thank everyone who has, is and will be giving of their time to ensure another memorable 17th March.”

Local businesses are also encouraged to participate, making this year’s parade bigger and brighter than ever.

Monasterevin

Monasterevin will kick off the celebrations at 14:00pm, marking the 11th anniversary of its St. Patrick’s Day Parade. This milestone event promises to be a memorable occasion for the entire community.

Clane

First held in 2005, the Clane St Patrick’s Day Parade has grown into a popular annual festival for locals and visitors alike.

The 2026 theme is “Forty Shades of Green,” and the parade also celebrates its 21st anniversary, marking a major milestone for the Clane Festival Committee.

Kilcock

Kilcock’s parade will take place at 1:30 PM, with a fun and adventurous theme: “On Our Screens – from Soaps to Superheroes,” inviting colourful costumes, creativity and fun for all ages.

Limerick

From March 13th to 17th 2025, discover "Legends of Limerick" over St. Patrick's Festival weekend, featuring a variety of events designed to bring smiles to faces of all ages.

Festival Favourites include:

The  53rd Limerick International Band Championship which will take place on Sunday, 15 March, while the traditional St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place on Tuesday, 17 March.

The vibrant and colourful St. Patrick’s Day parade will follow the same route as 2025, making it’s way down O’Connell Street before moving on to Henry Street and ending at Arthur’s Quay Park.

Waterford

Waterford City and County Council are delighted to welcome you back in 2026 to the Waterford St. Patrick’s Day Festival, including the parade on Tuesday, March 17th!

The St. Patrick’s Day Festival will run for four fun-filled days from March 13th–17th, 2025, in Waterford City and will celebrate the very best of what the city has to offer and what makes it the best place to live, work and visit.

We’ve long been recognised for our strong cultural scene, and this year’s extended St. Patrick’s Day Festival will make for a fun-filled and exciting weekend.

The city is easily accessible for families to enjoy the festivities. With an array of shopping & dining choices in the City, this festival gives you an extra opportunity to experience what Waterford has to offer.

Dublin

The National St. Patrick’s Day Parade begins at 12pm on 17 March in Dublin City Centre, running from Parnell Square in the north of the city, down O’Connell Street, over O’Connell Bridge and through the south side of the city, ending at the Cuffe Street/Kevin Street junction.

The Parade will feature 12 large-scale floats from independent parade companies, with over 3,000 participants involved. Returning to the streets of Dublin are beloved pageant makers including Macnas, Bui Bolg, Spraoi, Inishowen Carnival Group, Curious State, Volkidana, The Outing Queer Arts Collective, Artastic and ArtFX, alongside exciting new entries from Lumen Street Theatre and Show CoMotion, a new Dublin-based parade company making its Festival debut. Adding to the festivities, The Rotunda Hospital makes its first appearance this year with a special float designed by ArtFX.

International participation remains a hallmark of the Parade, with marching bands travelling from Scotland and the United States, including eight American bands from Ohio, Arizona, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Mississippi, Indiana and Texas, reflecting the deep cultural connections between Ireland and its global diaspora.

No tickets are required for you to attend the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Simply pick a spot along the route and enjoy the spectacle and excitement! If you would like a seat at the Parade, there are a limited number of tickets available to purchase for grandstand seats. Grandstand tickets for St. Patrick’s Festival 2026 are on sale now.

Cork

Cork St. Patrick’s Festival 2025 runs from 13 to 17 March. Join us for the annual parade in Ireland's second city at 1pm on Tuesday 17 March - a family-friendly celebration featuring local and visiting groups, marching bands and festive pageantry.

Cork St. Patrick’s Festival celebrates its music, culture and tradition in style for St Patrick’s Day. Organised by Cork City Council, the four-day festival includes the St. Patrick's Day Parade on 17 March, plus a specially programmed range of events across the city.

Also taking place over the weekend are live music events, guided tours and family friendly events across the city. See the full programme of events on www.corkstpatricksfestival.ie