The Final Draft > Root Festival May 2026

What’s going on at Kilkenny Roots Festival 2026?

Kilkenny Roots Festival has been bringing its impeccable vibes and Americana energy to the streets, pubs, and parks of Kilkenny since 1998, and it’s always a fantastic week to be in the city. Since its inception, Smithwick’s has been a proud sponsor of this wonderful addition to Kilkenny’s cultural calendar, and this year, we are as proud as ever of the incredible lineup.

One of the real highlights of the festival is the way festivalgoers can wander through Kilkenny’s medieval streets, dipping in and out of different musical performances as they go. With so many free performances, it’s incredibly inclusive, and the quality of performers is stellar.

More than 30 venues are taking part in this year's festival, showcasing over 40 Irish and international acts, with upwards of 90 shows. The Smithwick’s music trail is a dream festival itinerary with an eclectic mix of both ticketed and free shows, running from early afternoon right through to late at night, over four marvellously curated days.

Among the trail’s free pub gigs, there is an incredible opportunity to enjoy a wide range of super musicians and genres for free. You’ll find a mix of established names and emerging artists gracing stages and snugs across the city, and you can expect to find everything from swing, bluegrass, rockabilly, and Cajun to folk and blues. There’s something to suit about every taste.

Here are just a few of the highlights of Kilkenny’s top cultural attraction for 2026…

Outdoor sessions at the Barrel Yard

Ever since we opened our Barrel Yard as a beer garden and live music venue, it’s been a hopping highlight of the Roots festival. Here at the Smithwick Experience, the city’s Roots energy often feels loudest and liveliest. All weekend long, our open‑air space becomes a go‑to stop for good company, great live music, gourmet street food, and an unmistakable festival atmosphere.

Whether you’re joining friends for an afternoon session, or enjoying a complimentary pint post-brewery tour, or dropping back in after a wander through town, the Barrel Yard has a welcoming vibe and a lineup that keeps the good times rolling as the sun moves across the sky. It’s a festival highlight that feels just as much like a social hub as a music stage – exactly where you want to be in Kilkenny.

Headliners at the Set Theatre and Billy Byrne’s

For those iconic Roots moments, the Set Theatre and Billy Byrne’s play host to some of the festival’s most anticipated shows each year. While the free gigs all over the city are always a blast, and feature top-quality music from exceptional music talent, there’s just something about these ticketed headline events that will elevate your festival experience, and if you can get to one of two of the ticketed shows, you might just experience something relatively rare and very special.

This year, the Big Star Quintet – celebrating five decades of cult classics with members from bands like Teenage Fanclub and The Posies – headlines in the Set Theatre (May 1), bringing guitar‑rich power pop legends to Kilkenny for a rare Irish performance. On May 2nd, Grammy‑winning songwriter Rodney Crowell plays here – this gig is already sold out, but you can still get tickets for Florry, who are on stage right after him with their raucous country rock and roll energy.

At Billy Byrne’s, artists like SunYears and Elise are among those lined up to take the stage and wow the city. Billy Byrnes always has an intimate feel and a beautiful buzz, one of those festival stops where you feel close to the music. Again, if you want to experience a more exclusive and intimate show during the festival, Billy Byrne’s is a wonderful way to experience some superb music.

The Kilkenny city atmosphere

Beyond any one venue, the festival’s atmosphere itself is a headline act. If you speak to anyone who has been to the festival, or any local who lives here during it, they’ll tell you that the buzz in the city during the Roots Festival is famous, and every bit as electric as it is during the Cat Laughs comedy festival.

During Roots, Kilkenny’s medieval streets come alive with music and movement from early in the afternoon to late into the night, and Music spills into the streets. That indescribable city‑wide energy is part of what makes Roots so special – it isn’t just something you attend in venues, the vibe continues through every cobbled street.