Cúirt is one of Europe’s oldest literary festivals, and this year’s week-long celebration in Galway, running from April 21 to April 26, will interrogate Irish and international writing, in English and Irish, for lovers of the written word of all ages.
This year’s theme is ‘Finding the Words’ which includes an invitation to celebrate literature and the ways in which writers shape the way we see the world, fuel imaginations, provide clarity, and broaden 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’,” says Manuela Moser, Cúirt’s Festival Director.
Irish writers include 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 and Sinéad Morrissey.
International writers include Gwendoline Riley, Adania Shibli, Balsam Karam, Nikesh Shukla, Alan Davies, Polly Barton and Juliano Zaffino, Claire-Louise Bennett.
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. Hosted by Cló Iar-Chonnacht founder, Micheál Ó Conghaile.
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.
For Comhrá le Celia de Fréine: Cóirín na dTonn, poet, playwright and prose writer Celia de Fréine 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, ROPES, Banshee, Pigs Back, Ragaire, PVA and Tolka.
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 we’ll hear many new writers exploring their voices in showcases across the week.
Cúirt Poetry Sessions will be held in association with Poetry Ireland, while the Galway Arts Centre’s Writer in Residence Padraig Regan will curate sessions throughout the week.
Venues this year will be all across the city including The Town Hall Theatre, Mick Lally Theatre, Nuns Island Theatre, Galway Arts Centre, An Taibhdhearc, Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop and The O’Donoghue Centre in University of Galway.
For the full programme, please log on to www.cuirt.ie
