Arts festival

Galway Arts Festival

Events & Festivals

Events & Festivals in Galway City

Things to do in Galway
Summer 2023

June - September (Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays)

Ireland’s Number 1 Music, Song & Dance Experience
Performers who have captivated audiences in extraordinary and groundbreaking productons such as ‘Riverdance’, ‘The Chieftains’ and ‘Lord of the Dance’ have gathered together on ONE STAGE to present an unforgetable entertainment experience. It’s a truly remarkable experience suitable for all ages and nationalities.

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11th to the 16th July 2023

First established in 1989, the Galway Film Fleadh is a festival that is not only deeply rooted in Galway’s festival scene, but Ireland’s too. Normally taking place over six jam-packed days in July, the Galway Film Fleadh is a treat for film lovers of all shapes and sizes! Whether it’s an eye-opening documentary, the next big Irish film, a showing of an old Disney classic or an exciting, new international film, Galway Film Fleadh has it all, and more. This festival has shown it will not be stopped, with the 2020 festival carried out online and switching to outdoors in 2021; this is another festival geared up for a big return in 2023.

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17th to the 30th of July 2023

Easily regarded as Galway’s most famous and most popular festival, the Galway International Arts Festival (GIAF) was first established over 40 years ago. Since then the festival has evolved into a world-renowned, annual, two-week long festival which showcases some of the finest artists, musicians and performers who hail from every corner of Ireland, and from all around the world. To give you an idea of the sheer size of the festival, the GIAF hosted a monumental 200 events, in a whopping 30 venues, which attracted over 250,000 people to the hallowed streets of Galway City, over two mighty weeks in July 2023. This is a festival not to be missed, with an impressive line up on sale for the Heineken Big Top.

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The Galway Races
31st July - 6th August 2023


The sporting event of the year in Galway, the Galway Races Summer Festival is a week-long festival which takes place every year at the end of July. The festival, held behind closed doors in 2023, then proceeded with limited ticket numbers in 2023, will be well and truly ready to launch back into full festivities for 2023, all things going well. This is a day out which can be enjoyed by everyone whether you place a bet hoping that the luck of the Irish has rubbed off on you, get dressed up for Ladies Day or just sit back and soak up the atmosphere of Ireland’s avid equestrian scene as horses race by. The atmosphere in the city during this week is electric, even if you don’t venture out to Ballybrit, it’s a fantastic week to experience Galway doing what it does best, playing host to visitors from near and far.

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22nd to the 24th of September 2023

This three-day long event is a must for any foodie fans out there, whether you’re an oyster fan or not. The Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival hosts various events over the course of this weekend with live music, great food (with vegan and vegetarian options available too!), intense competitions (resulting in a World Oyster Opening Champion), cooking demonstrations and children's entertainment guaranteed. Various Galway restaurants also take part in a seafood trail for those looking to get the full experience of Galway’s seafood gastronomy.

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24th to the 30th of October 2023.

Currently named as Europe’s biggest comedy festival, Galway Comedy Festival runs for a full week at the end of October. This festival first began in 2006 and has since grown into one of the largest, and most popular festivals, that Galway has, boasting impressive programmes which have included some of the biggest and best names in comedy. In this unprecedented, quieter-than-usual year alone, there were 45 shows in a number of venues in the city centre, with one of our very own open top buses even featuring as a venue!

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Special Offers

Best Available Rate Room Only

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Fabulous Fifties Special

from €210 per room

Romantic Wine and Dine Package

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Sunday Slumber Saver -20% Off plus Dinner

from €270 per room