Bealtaine Festival, Ireland’s national festival celebrating the arts and ageing, returns for May 2026 with registration now open for participants. The festival, which is an Age & Opportunity initiative, brings people together from across the country to inspire creativity in those aged 50+ and to highlight the ongoing potential people have as they move through later life.
Artists and arts organisations of all sizes are now invited to register and organise a Bealtaine event in their local area. The month-long festival welcomes participants across all art forms including music, theatre, dance, visual arts, literature, film, storytelling, circus, comedy and much more.
This is the 31st year of the Bealtaine Festival which was founded in 1995 and now sees events take place across the country. Last year, the festival comprised of over 870 events with circa 270 Bealtaine organisers delivering creative events at a local level.
Dr Tara Byrne, Arts Programme Manager at Age & Opportunity and Bealtaine Festival Artistic Director said: “The Bealtaine Festival engages thousands of people every year in a joyful coming together through the arts. We want to show the value of the arts in helping us to reimagine our lives as brimming with potential, as well as supporting community and social connection. We look forward to seeing each and every county in Ireland celebrating the arts as we look to support the participation and representation of all older people in creative life in Ireland.
We encourage artists, arts organisations and community groups to consider this year’s theme ‘Lust for Life’ with a view to organising an event for the 2026 Festival.”
HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN BEALTAINE 2026
Organisations are encouraged to plan their ‘Lust for Life’ arts event for Bealtaine 2026. Once the event is ready for promotion, it can be registered at www.bealtaine.ie.
Why not organise a Dawn or Dusk chorus with your local choir, attend Bealtaine events locally or at the Festival HQ.
Registration for Bealtaine 2026 is now open and will remain open from February right through to May. Bealtaine Festival is an initiative by Age & Opportunity, funded by The Arts Council and the HSE.
For queries regarding the online registration process or the festival, email arts@ageandopportunity.ie
