Galway's event calendar is absolutely bursting with events and festivals all year long! So, to help you make the most of what’s going on, we’ve put together a must-read guide featuring the top 10 events you won’t want to miss this month. From family-friendly events to live entertainment, there’s something for everyone - so dive in and start planning your next great Galway experience right here..
Below is just a snippet of everything Galway has to offer event-wise in the month ahead. If you would like a full list of all the wonderful events Galway has on, please check out our website at; https://thisisgalway.ie/events/.
Galway Pride Week
When: August 2nd - 8th
Where: Galway City
More information here
Galway Pride Week 2026 is coming to Galway City with a full week of events celebrating queer joy, resistance and community. The Pride Parade will bring colour, music and magic to the streets on Saturday 8th August, so now is the time to mark those calendars and start planning your looks. Across the week you can expect a mix of community gatherings, awareness and mental health events, arts and performance nights, live music, late-night parties and plenty of spaces to connect with LGBTQ+ people and allies. There will be family-friendly moments, sober and low-sensory spaces, as well as high-energy club nights so there’s something for everyone. Hit the link above to discover what’s on.
National Heritage Week
When: August 15th - 23rd
Where: Nationwide
More information here
During National Heritage Week, you’re invited to explore its 2026 theme ‘Heritage At Risk’ and reflect on what it is that is putting our heritage at risk - and how we can respond with care, creativity and collective responsibility. Events will take place throughout the week at heritage sites across Ireland. Many of these events will be free to attend, making it the perfect opportunity to explore hidden gems and experience Galway's heritage with a fresh perspective. Events are taking place in Galway at Galway City Museum, Brigit’s Garden, Athenry Castle, Battle of Aughrim Visitor Centre, Ballinasloe Library, and Kylemore Abbey. See the link above for full details.
Connemara Pony Show
When: August 18th - 21st
Where: Clifden
More information here
Coming to Clifden this August is the largest showcase of Connemara ponies in the world and you are all invited to attend this spectacular four-day show. This year is a celebration of 101 years of the Connemara Pony Show and each day brings with it its own kind of magic. Complete with captivating events that showcase the breed’s exceptional talent and paying homage to its remarkable history. Highlights include loose jumping championships, ridden classes & championships, in-hand show day & supreme championship, domestic arts, dog show & Irish dancing, working hunter classes & championships, as well as the fantastic Parade of Champions through the town.
above: photo by Rynes Walker
A Place to Bury Strangers
When: August 29th, at 8pm
Where: Róisín Dubh
More information here
Thanks to the support of Strange Brew, A Place to Bury Strangers are bringing their ‘Rare & Deadly’ tour to Galway’s Róisín Dubh, delivering a full-force assault of distortion, feedback, and hypnotic rhythm that has cemented their reputation as one of the loudest bands on the planet. Known for their visceral live shows, where walls of sound collide with strobe-heavy visuals and raw intensity, the New York trio continues to push the boundaries of noise rock and post-punk with unrelenting energy. Expect an evening of total sensory overload, an essential stop for fans of noise, post-punk, and boundary-pushing live music.
Red Hot Funky Peppers
When: August 8th, at 8.30pm
Where: The Loft at Seven
More information here
Get ready to groove to over two hours of authentic high energy RHCP bangers as the incredible Red Hot Funky Peppers make their electrifying return to Seven Bar. This is the perfect chance to dance the night away, and soak in the fun atmosphere that Europe’s quintessential Chili Peppers Tribute have become known for. Don’t miss out on a night packed with funky beats and good vibes! Space will be limited so grab your tickets early!
The US Office Quiz with WOMP Events
When: August 12th, at 7pm
Where: Massimo
More information here
We DECLAAAAAARE a US OFFICE Quiz Night! This August, WOMP Events are returning to Massimo with a brand new edition of their US OFFICE Quiz Night to test your knowledge on all things Dunder Mifflin. With trivia, photo, song & quote rounds – this will be a multimedia mish-mash celebrating one of the most popular TV shows of all time. There will be prizes for the top 3 teams, as well as spot prizes for the most effective CPR performance & Best Team Name. For this quiz, you should strive to be a Kevin, not an Oscar.
Mario Kart Live: The Summer Cup! Race 3
When: August 21st
Where: Róisín Dubh
More information here
Mario Kart Live: The Experience is an immersive, high-energy event where you can race, compete, and groove to the beat as music fuels the excitement on the track! Attendees jump into the action by playing Mario Kart on the big screen while a professional live band performs every race theme, battle track, and victory fanfare in perfect sync with the gameplay. Every drift, shell hit, lightning strike, and photo finish is brought to life with dynamic live music. You don’t just hear the soundtrack. You experience it.
Palestine Comedy Club Documentary Screening
When: August 28th, at 8pm
Where: Town Hall Theatre
More information here
This August director Alaa Aliabdallah and Tough Crowd are bringing a Palestine Comedy Club documentary screening to the Town Hall Theatre. The documentary follows six Palestinian comedians as they hit the road to tour a stand-up show across Palestine. As they go their search for humour amidst the injustice of everyday Palestinian life becomes a plea for humanity in the face of brutal war.
Róisín Stack - No Woman is an Island
When: August 21st + 22nd
Where: Bank of Ireland Theatre
More information here
Three years ago, a theatre maker set out to investigate a woman's tireless pursuit of alone time. She presents her findings, veering between texts from great female thinkers, banal thoughts about crockery and intimate vignettes from a marriage. No Woman is an Island is a meditation on geographies of the Self. It maps the internal and external spaces in which we live our lives while walking a wonky line through cultural theories and histories of female solitude. With sharp humour and quiet ferocity, the piece creates an intimate and thoughtful space for audiences to consider the relationship between productivity and identity.
Sebastian Barry in Conversation with Tómas Kenny
When: August 28th, at 6pm
Where: Kennys Bookshop
More information here
Bestselling Irish author Sebastian Barry will be at Kennys Bookshop on August 28th, joining Tomás Kenny in conversation about his new book ‘The Newer World’. An immersive and unforgettable novel of one man’s life in the aftermath of the American Civil War. Against this rapidly shifting landscape, Tennyson Bouguereau – freed man, devoted brother, nascent singer, conflicted soldier and wanted man – journeys to find meaning and belonging. From the relative safety of home in Tennessee with his sister Rosalee, he is offered the possibility of a whole new life in Nashville, until a surprising trip to Victorian England changes everything. Exquisitely rendered, and with a rich cast of characters, The Newer World is a lyrical, visceral novel about what it is to survive, and what might be lost along the way.
Main photo courtesy by Chaosheng Zhang
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