The world-class Galway International Arts Festival returns from 13-26 July 2026 with a thrilling mix of local & global talent across a multidisciplinary programme that includes theatre, music, circus, dance, opera, visual art, spectacle & bold ideas through its First Thought series.

The festival announces many of its Heineken Big Top acts the November before the festival each year & big name acts already announced for 2026 include pop icons James; six-time GRAMMY®-nominated The Flaming Lips, supported by Mercury Rev; Block Rockin Beats; Emeli Sandé & James Morrison; BELL X1; and the legendary Saw Doctors, with tickets on sale now.

More acts will be announced before end 2025, while the full Festival programme announced in May 2026.