Bealtaine Festival Sligo 2026 – A Month‑Long Celebration of Creativity, Community & Culture
Every May, Sligo comes alive with Bealtaine – Ireland’s national festival celebrating arts and creativity as we age. This year’s programme is one of the most vibrant yet, with over 70 events spanning music, visual art, dance, literature, workshops, talks, and community gatherings across the county.
From dawn choruses in Queen Maeve Square to textile workshops in the Yeats Building, Bealtaine 2026 showcases the depth of Sligo’s creative community and the joy of lifelong artistic expression. Whether you’re a regular festival‑goer or discovering Bealtaine for the first time, there is something for everyone.
Below is an overview of what’s happening throughout May, along with some standout highlights.
Festival Highlights
Bealtaine Dawn Chorus – Sligo Orpheus Choir
Sun 3 May, 8am – Queen Maeve Square A national Bealtaine event and one of Sligo’s most uplifting annual traditions. The Orpheus Choir welcomes the sunrise with rich harmonies and a warm community atmosphere. “Experience the magic of the Bealtaine Dawn Chorus…” (from the programme)
Won’t Be Told – Tumble Circus
Sat 16 May, 1pm – Hawk’s Well Theatre A bold, rebellious circus performance packed with acrobatics, juggling and anarchic humour. A national Bealtaine highlight and completely free to attend.
A Night in November – Opening Night Ticket Offer
Wed 27 May, 8pm – Hawk’s Well Theatre Kenneth McCallister’s powerful story of identity and transformation returns to Sligo. Over‑50s can enjoy a special €5 opening‑night ticket.
Dracula’s Sligo: A Horrible History of 1832
Fri 29 May, 1pm – Hawk’s Well Theatre Studio A witty, Horrible‑Histories‑style retelling of Sligo’s cholera epidemic and its influence on Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Expect dark humour, local lore, and plenty of surprises.
Songs at Twilight – Paul Murray & Hugh MacConville
Fri 22 May, 7pm – Oak Moon at the Yeats Building An intimate evening of ballads and music‑hall favourites in the Yeats Building’s garden setting.
Exhibitions Across Sligo
Polyrhythms – Tinka Bechert
Throughout May – The Model A major exhibition exploring rhythm, abstraction and movement across painting, sculpture and textiles. “Rhythm, repetition and pacing guiding how the works unfold…”
Jack B. Yeats Exhibitions – The Living Ginger & A Painted Universe
Throughout May – The Model Two exhibitions celebrating one of Ireland’s most iconic artists, exploring memory, imagination and everyday experience.
Bealtaine Art Group Exhibition
Wed 20 May, 1pm – Yeats Building Work from Active Retirement groups in Collooney and Ballymote.
Open Studios at The Model
Wed 6 May, 2–4pm – The Model Studios Meet artists Kate McDonagh, Andy Parsons and Jo Conway for a behind‑the‑scenes look at their creative processes.
Workshops, Tours & Creative Sessions
Bealtaine 2026 offers an exceptional range of hands‑on workshops and participatory events:
- Conscious Dance with Dr. Éadaoin Ní Challarain – Kindred Studios, Strandhill
- Watercolour Workshop inspired by Jack B. Yeats – The Model
- Sketching in the Gallery – The Model
- Lanterns in the Making with Tom Meskell – Sligo Tourist Office
- Cyanotype Workshop – Calico Cloak Project – Yeats Building
- Felt‑making Workshop with Vivienne Byrne – Hyde Bridge Gallery
- Tassels & Threads Textile Workshop – Yeats Building
- Brown Bread, Butter & Stories – Yeats Building
- Creative Writing Workshops with Maeve McKenna – City Hall
- Trad Slow Sessions with Mossie Martin & Sean Carroll – No. 45 High Street
These events span Sligo Town, Strandhill, Gurteen, Ballymote and beyond, supporting county‑wide participation and dispersal.
Bealtaine @ The Libraries
Sligo’s library network hosts a full programme of free events, including:
- Digital Skills Workshops
- Kitchen Crafting Sessions
- Ciorcal Comhrá / Conversational Irish
- Five Ways to a Healthier You
- Fifty, Fit & Flourishing
- How Media Works
- Exploring Ireland’s Bats
- Aspiring Authors Over 60
- Poetry Workshops with Terry McDonagh
- Library Open Day & Help Session
These events support creativity, wellbeing, digital inclusion and lifelong learning.
Arts + Health Programme
While not open to the public, the Arts + Health strand is a vital part of Bealtaine, bringing creativity into care homes, day centres and community hospitals across Sligo. Projects include:
- Folk:Lure Residency Programme
- Life is for Drumming
- Memories Old & Memories New
- Medium Rare (a Hawk’s Well Theatre production)
This work ensures Bealtaine reaches older people in supported settings throughout the county.
Artist Opportunities
Sligo Arts Service is offering two professional development opportunities for artists aged 50+:
- Tyrone Guthrie Centre Residency – Open Call (1–15 May)
- Organising & Documenting Your Work – Online Workshop with Kari Cahill
These supports help sustain and strengthen Sligo’s creative sector.
Plan Your Bealtaine Experience
With events happening from Queen Maeve Square to Gurteen, Ballymote, Strandhill, Tubbercurry and Sligo Town, Bealtaine 2026 is a celebration of creativity across the entire county.
To build your own personalised festival itinerary, try the Visit Sligo Ideas Engine on visitsligo.ie — a quick way to discover experiences, plan days out, and explore more of Sligo during your visit.
