Music. Dance. Culture: Why you won’t want to miss the Dublin Irish Festival
Seven stages, 60 acts, 800 performers, 90+ vendors, and one very good reason to clear your calendar for the last weekend of July. The Dublin Irish Festival—which took home the No. 1 spot in USA TODAY’s 2025 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for Cultural Festival, and currently sits at No. 3 for 2026—is gearing up for its 39th year, and it’s shaping up to be the biggest one yet.
Running July 31 through August 2, 2026 at Coffman Park, this year’s lineup is stacked. Headliners include Gaelic Storm, Altan, The Gardiner Brothers and Scythian, backed by national, international and local talent. Along with some of the best Irish and Celtic music in the world, there’s eight Irish dance schools performing all weekend long.
If you’ve ever attended, you know the music is only one of many highlights. Kick things off early with the Dublin Irish Festival 5K on Thursday, July 30 (sponsored by IGS Energy) followed by a post-race party and concert (spots fill up fast, so sign up now). Catch the Highland Games, Stones of Strength, sheep herding demonstrations, darts competitions, cultural demonstrations, and a plethora of food trucks. History buffs and hands-on learners can dive into workshops, literary discussions and the always-popular genealogy tent, while Celtic Canines remain a crowd favorite for obvious reasons.
614Now spoke with Alison LeRoy, City of Dublin Director of Events. She said, “My favorite part of the Festival is seeing our community come together to create an unforgettable weekend. There’s an incredible sense of homecoming as bands, dancers, guests, and volunteers return year after year. For so many people, the first weekend in August isn’t just another date on the calendar, it’s a tradition they look forward to all year long.”
Between hearty Irish stews, fresh pastries, live cooking demos, and a full lineup of Irish beer, cider and cocktails, your weekend dining is covered. Whiskey lovers won’t want to miss the exclusive tasting events, and if you’re serious about your caffeine, the new Irish Coffee Open House on Sunday morning—hosted alongside a Jameson Whiskey Ambassador— will teach you how to make the perfect cup at home.
VIP Club Passes like the Emerald Club and Ultimate Music Experience come with covered premium viewing, private restrooms and bars, meals, drinks, parking and more. With nearly 100 global vendors selling everything from handmade jewelry to Celtic garb, you’ll have no shortage of ways to bring a little piece of Ireland home with you.
LeRoy said, “At its heart, the Dublin Irish Festival is about bringing people together to celebrate the joy, energy and richness of Irish culture. Whether you’ve been coming for years or are experiencing it for the first time, there is something truly special about watching Coffman Park come alive with music, dance, food and tradition all weekend long.”
Ticket prices go up on July 19, so now’s the time to lock in your spot. Grab your tickets, download the Festival app for stage schedules and maps, and get ready for four days of music, food and tradition that’s kept central Ohioans coming back for nearly 40 years.
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