Tickets for the 2026 Cúirt Festival of Literature are on sale now …
This year’s Cúirt Festival of Literature in Galway runs from April 21-26, celebrating the very best in contemporary literature. The festival has run for over 40 years and the 2026 event showcases the best of Irish writing, in addition to visiting writers. The theme Finding The Words incorporates novels, poetry, memoirs and exhibitions. As Cúirt Director Manuela Moser notes; “In the words of Seamus Heaney, ‘If you have the words, there’s always a chance that you’ll find the way.’”
Irish writers include Edel Coffey, Liz Nugent, Ardal O’Hanlon, Neil Jordan, Mary Costello, Vona Groarke, Jessica Traynor, Louise O’Neill (whose new novel, Whatever Happened to Madeline Stone?, is published in April), Mary O’Malley, Rita Ann Higgins, Susannah Dickey and Sinéad Morrissey.
International writers include Gwendoline Riley (whose new novel, The Palm House, lands in April, and it is dazzling); Adania Shibli, Balsam Karam, Mikesh Shukla, Alan Davies, Polly Barton (whose translations include Asako Yuzuki’s bestselling Butter and her just-published Hooked), Claire-Louise Bennett and Juliano Zaffino.
Cúirt 2026 will have 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. Filíocht ó Bhéal & Ceol na nGael is a night of spoken word from Ciara Ní É and music from Amano De Londra Miura, with accompaniment from traditional Irish musicians. And an event will explore the process of poet, playwright and prose writer Celia de Fréine.
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, ROPES, Banshee, Pigs Back, PVA and Tolka.
Cúirt 2026 will celebrate Seamus Heaney, Maeve Brennan and Manchán Magan, reflecting on their legacy, as well as many new writers whose voices are explored in showcases across the week.
There will be plenty of children’s events, as well as Cúirt Poetry Sessions, in association with Poetry Ireland. Cúirt 2026 has partnered with the Galway Arts Centre on a Writer in Residence scheme, with writer Pádraig Regan curating a show.
Cúirt 2026 takes place across the city, with venues including The Town Hall Theatre, Mick Lally Theatre and Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop. For the full programme, see here. @cuirtfestival
