Running from 21st to 26th April 2026, this year’s Cúirt festival promises its usual exciting presentations of the very best in contemporary literature. For over 40 years the community of Galway has come together with visiting writers to create a unique celebration of writing. This year showcases the best of Irish writing as well fascinating visiting writers. Discover more about it below...
With this year’s theme, Finding the Words, we invite you to celebrate literature and the ways in which writers shape the way we see the world, fuel our imaginations, provide clarity, and broaden our minds. We hope this festival offers space to explore how we talk and write about what matters to us most, and in doing so, helps us to process the world around us – or, in the words of Seamus Heaney, ‘If you have the words, there’s always a chance that you’ll find the way.’ We can’t wait to see you this April for a week brimming with novels, poetry, memoirs and exhibitions, where we hope Cúirt will help you to find the words. Shares Manuela Moser, Festival Director.
above: photo by Emilija Jefremova
Attending this year's festival are:
Irish Writers; Mary Costello, Ardal O’Hanlon, Edel Coffey, Neil Jordan, Vona Groarke, Jessica Traynor, Louise O’Neill, Liz Nugent, Mary O’Malley, Rita Ann Higgins, Susannah Dickey & Sinéad Morrissey.
International Writers; Gwendoline Riley, Adania Shibli, Balsam Karam, Nikesh Shukla, Alan Davies, Polly Barton & Juliano Zaffino & Claire-Louise Bennett.
Cúirt 2026 will also present:
Seven Events as Gaeilge including a discussion of Dinnseanchas - the lore of Place in contemporary Irish-language literature. Cork writers Lorraine Ní Chathasaigh and Seán Óg Ó Duinnín discuss the importance of place in their work and share selected readings. Hosted by Cló Iar-Chonnacht founder, Micheál Ó Conghaile.
Filíocht ó Bhéal & Ceol na nGael - a night of spoken word from Ciara Ní É and music from Amano De Londra Miura, with accompaniment from traditional Irish musicians.
Comhrá le Celia de Fréine: Cóirín na dTonn - Celia de Fréine is a poet, playwright and prose writer and this event will explore her page-to-stage process..
The Cúirt Lecture 2026 will be delivered by Sarah Clancy who will reflect on her journey with the Global Sumud Flotilla.Cúirt 2026 will also be working with Journals The Stinging Fly (climate issue) ROPES, Banshee, Pigs Back, PVA and Tolka, Ragaire.
Events for children include Gyasi Sheppy’s debut children’s book But Dancing is for Girls! where inclusion, being unapologetically yourself, and dancing are at the heart of the story and Children’s Story Time in Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop.
Cúirt 2026 will celebrate three of the most significant Irish writers of the last 100 years, Seamus Heaney, Maeve Brennan and Manchán Magan, reflecting on their legacy and the words they left us with, and you'll hear many new writers exploring their voices in showcases across the week.
Cúirt Poetry Sessions will be in association with Poetry Ireland. Partnered with the Galway Arts Centre on a Writer in Residence scheme, with writer Padraig Regan curating a show 'usual and generous ways' that will show now until end of festival.
Venues this year will be all across the city including The Town Hall Theatre, Mick Lally Theatre, Galway Arts Centre - Nuns Island Theatre, Galway Arts Centre, An Taibhdhearc, Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop & The O’Donoghue Centre, University of Galway.
For the full programme and for ticket links please visit cuirt.ie.
Main photo by Emilija Jefremova.
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