Waterford City & County Council Festival & Event Grants for 2026
Waterford City and County Council has approved the allocation of €1,692,469 in festival and event funding to aid the development and promotion of events across Waterford City and County in 2026.
The figure is a slight increase on 2025’s allocation of €1,671,107.
The allocation will support 72 festivals and events throughout the city and county, in addition to providing training and support to enable local festivals to evolve.
Ten new festivals will make their debut in 2026 including, amongst others, Bloomsday in Waterford, Lismore Senior Citizen’s Christmas Party, West Waterford Mental Health Awareness Support Weekend and the GAA World Games.
Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Seamus Ryan welcomed the adoption of the Festivals and Events Budget for 2026.
“This allocation will give Waterford’s already much-loved and established festivals the opportunity to continue to entertain and enthral, while new festivals will get a welcome boost to debut in Waterford, provide new artistic experiences and reach new audiences.
“Waterford has a long and proud tradition of festivals, art and culture and this allocation assures that artists, creatives, musicians and festival programmers can continue to bring an eclectic range of entertainment to venues throughout the city and county, throughout the year.”
The primary focus of the funding is to support and promote local festivals that offer economic, tourism, cultural, artistic, or community benefits to Waterford. Additionally, funding is available to provide training that will help local festivals and events grow and develop.
Claire Hartley, Acting Director of Services with Waterford City and County Council added, “Year on year, Waterford has grown its festival programme to what is now a year round offering. From the most recent Winterval festival, which drew in excess of one million visitors to Waterford, and the renowned international street theatre festival, Spraoi, to the smaller, niche festivals, the calendar is bookended with over 70 events that have an appeal to all ages and all tastes.
“Waterford City and County Council is pleased to support the extensive range of dynamic and vibrant festivals and events that bring the community together, ensuring Waterford continues to be a hub of diverse and engaging entertainment.”
Some of the festivals to be supported in 2026 include Ballyduff Upper Gala Festival, Block Party, L’Étape Ireland, Immrama, Passage East Festival, Daonscoil na Mumhan, Pride of the Deise, Robert Boyle Summer School, Waterford Chamber Music Festival and Well Festival of Arts & Wellbeing.
Festival Grants
