The 2026 festival will showcase 35 new Irish films, major world premieres, international guests and over 130 short films from Thursday, July 7, to July 12.
Its Film Fair will once again serve as a major meeting point for the screen industry, offering panels, networking events and opportunities for international collaboration. This 38th edition takes place at Pálás Cinema and Town Hall Theatre.
The festival opens with the World Premiere of Peter Young’s feature debut, Our House, a gripping thriller centred on four siblings battling over the family home following the death of their mother.
Irish horror Feed, directed by Marco van Belle, follows social media influencers who awaken an ancient Dearg due – the feared bloodsucker.
Among the most anticipated world premieres is You’ll Never Believe Who’s Dead, the debut feature from Dallan Shovlin. This darkly comic tale follows a struggling family whose financial troubles lead them to contemplate a drastic solution involving the wealthy farmer living up the road. It features an exceptional ensemble cast including Ardal O’Hanlon, Stephen Rea, Michelle Fairley, Ruth Codd, Peter Claffey, Simone Kirby and Jacob McCarthy.
Documentaries
Highlights include the Irish premiere of Sinéad O’Shea’s Sundance hit All About the Money, Cara Holmes‘ Lesbian Lines, on a phone service set up in the 1980s, and Ross McClean’s Magilligan, an empathetic portrait of a young man.
Ciara Hyland’s Pós Mé, examines Irish marriage; James Wynne’s Star of the Sea, covers a mixed Catholic-Protestant football team in 1970s Northern Ireland; and The S.U., chronicles the University of Galway’s Students’ Union.
Additional Irish world premieres include Terry Loane’s Faraway Home, Alex Fegan’s Murphy Vs Christmas, Sinéad Murphy’s Sludge, and Dean Conway’s Conversations in Bed.
American Doctor, follows medics working in Palestine, while Special Boy is an intimate look at the realities of life as a touring comedian. On Silver Heels chronicles the Estonian women’s ice hockey team, and Joybubbles, the remarkable story of a blind young man in 1950s America who learned to ‘hack’ telephone systems using precisely pitched whistles.
Competition, genre and music
The festival’s Peripheral Visions competition returns, showcasing feature films from emerging European filmmakers. Competing for a €3,000 prize, films this year come from Finland, Switzerland, Belgium, France and Germany.
The ever-popular What The Fleadh?! strand celebrates genre cinema in all its forms. Highlights include the Irish Premiere of Victorian Psycho, fresh from its Cannes debut; the world premiere of Irish horror Feed; Cathal Fitzpatrick’s sci-fi feature Hollow Trees; and John Spillane’s mockumentary The Badger of Ballybog. Audiences can also enjoy comedies ranging from Maddie’s Secret to the Romanian crowd-pleaser Sorella Di Clausura.
Meanwhile, Turn It Up!, the festival’s music strand, celebrates musical culture across generations and genres. Highlights include documentaries on the origins of the Newport Folk Festival, life on tour in the 1990s alongside the Foo Fighters, Bikini Kill and Beastie Boys in The Best Summer, Galway’s own cello festival in Cellissimo, and You Got Gold: Celebrating John Prine, a star-studded tribute to the legendary songwriter.
New Talent
The festival will also present the Bingham Ray New Talent Award, recognising promise across acting, writing, directing, producing and cinematography.
In addition, Galway Film Fleadh will screen more than 130 Irish and international short films, all competing for the festival’s Oscar-qualifying short film awards.
Meanwhile, to mark the tenth anniversary of Irish hit The Young Offenders, the festival will host a special live audio commentary event featuring writer-director Peter Foott alongside stars Alex Murphy, Chris Walley and Hilary Rose.
Tickets for screenings, Q&As, interviews, panel discussions and events are available from www.GalwayFilmFleadh.com
