The summer gig season is here.
From parks and castles to stadiums, city squares and festival fields, the next few months are full of big outdoor shows, major tours and festival weekends.
It starts this weekend in Dublin, with Forbidden Fruit returning to the grounds of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham and St Anne's Park opening its summer concert series.
Amble opened the St Anne's Park run on Friday before CMAT headlines tonight, while Forbidden Fruit brings two days of music to Kilmainham across the Bank Holiday weekend.
After that, Kodaline play their Irish farewell shows, Metallica play two nights at the Aviva Stadium, The Weeknd and Bon Jovi head for Croke Park, Luke Combs brings country to Slane Castle, and Electric Picnic rounds out the main festival season in Stradbally at the end of August.
Here are some of the biggest gigs, festivals and outdoor music events taking place around Ireland this summer.
St Anne’s Park
Where: St Anne’s Park, Dublin
When: 29 May to 7 June
The summer music season kicked off at St Anne's Park last night with Amble taking to the stage ahead of CMAT and her 'very sexy band' headlining tonight.
CMAT’s show comes fresh from her Ivor Novello Award win for Best Album for EURO-COUNTRY, her first win at The Ivors. It gives the Dublin date a nice extra bit of momentum as she brings the album home for one of her biggest Irish headline shows to date.
The rest of the run includes Snow Patrol, Kingfishr, The 2 Johnnies and David Byrne.
Forbidden Fruit
Where: Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin
When: 30 and 31 May
Forbidden Fruit returns to the grounds of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham this Bank Holiday weekend, helping to open the summer festival season in Dublin.
The two-day festival features Kaytranada, Kettama, Nia Archives and Joy Crookes among the main names on the bill, with electronic, hip hop and alternative acts playing across the weekend.
Live at the Marquee
Where: Cork
When: 10 June to 18 July
Live at the Marquee returns to Cork with another long run of summer shows.
This year’s line-up includes Imelda May, David Gray, Bell X1, Two Door Cinema Club, Paul Weller, Christy Moore, Five, James Arthur, Natasha Bedingfield, Kesha and James Taylor.
David Gray was the first act announced for the 2026 series and plays two dates at the Marquee as part of his Past & Present World Tour, while Imelda May’s Cork date is being billed as her biggest Irish show of the year.
Malahide Castle
Where: Malahide Castle, Dublin
When: 10 to 30 June
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds open the Malahide Castle series on 10 June, with Kingfishr, Kodaline, Teddy Swims, Katy Perry, Michael Bublé, Calvin Harris and Maroon 5 all playing across the month.
Kodaline’s date should be one of the most emotional Irish shows of the summer. The Swords band play Malahide Castle on 20 June, following dates at Ulster Hall in Belfast and Virgin Media Park in Cork. The Dublin date will be their last ever Irish gig.
The Academic and Nell Mescal are special guests from the Dublin and Cork shows.
Beyond the Pale
Where: Glendalough Estate, Wicklow
When: 12 to 14 June
Beyond the Pale returns to Glendalough Estate in Wicklow with Caribou, Soulwax and Father John Misty leading the bill.
Primal Scream, Groove Armada, Sister Sledge and Honey Dijon are also playing, with food, art, comedy and wellness running across the weekend too.
Belsonic
Where: Ormeau Park, Belfast
When: 12 June to 1 July
Belsonic brings another run of outdoor shows to Ormeau Park in Belfast.
Teddy Swims, Def Leppard, Sonny Fodera, The Cure, Kings of Leon, Pitbull and Michael Bublé are among the names playing this year, along with The Farmer’s Bash and other events.
There are some strong support slots in the mix too, with Irish acts Just Mustard joining The Cure and Florence Road supporting Kings of Leon.
Fairview Park
Where: Fairview Park, Dublin
When: 16 to 30 June
Kasabian, David Gray, Two Door Cinema Club, Dropkick Murphys, Ethel Cain, Paul Weller and Empire of the Sun are all part of this year’s Fairview Park run.
Ethel Cain is one of the more distinctive bookings of the series, bringing her Southern Gothic world to a line-up otherwise heavy on indie and rock favourites.
Metallica
Where: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
When: 19 and 21 June
Metallica bring their M72 World Tour to Dublin for two nights at the Aviva Stadium.
The tour’s No Repeat Weekend format means different setlists and different support acts across the two nights, so fans going to both shows should not get the same gig twice.
Gojira, Pantera, Knocked Loose and Avatar will support across the Dublin dates.
Marlay Park
Where: Marlay Park, Dublin
When: 20 June to 7 July
Marlay Park has one of the busiest outdoor schedules of the summer, with Olivia Dean, Lewis Capaldi, The Cure, Calvin Harris, Florence + The Machine, Mumford & Sons and Pitbull all set to perform.
Olivia Dean opens the run with two Dublin dates on 20 and 21 June, before Lewis Capaldi plays two nights on 23 and 24 June, with CMAT joining him as a special guest.
Capaldi's Irish shows follow his return to live performance after time away from touring, and the extra Dublin was added after strong demand for tickets.
Trinity Summer Series
Where: Trinity College Dublin
When: 29 June to 5 July
Trinity Summer Series returns to the grounds of Trinity College Dublin.
This year’s line-up includes James Arthur, Stephen Wilson Jr., Wet Leg, Glen Hansard, Cian Ducrot, OMD and The Kooks.
Glen Hansard’s show brings him back to one of Dublin’s most atmospheric outdoor settings, while Cian Ducrot’s date follows a run of increasingly large Irish headline shows.
Live at the Iveagh Gardens
Where: Iveagh Gardens, Dublin
When: 2 to 19 July
Live at the Iveagh Gardens returns with another summer run in its walled-garden setting.
Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Dylan Gossett, The Scratch, Elvis Costello & The Imposters with Charlie Sexton, Johnny Marr, Bell X1, James Taylor, James Morrison and Emeli Sandé, Damien Dempsey, Garbage and Charlie Puth are all due to play.
The setting is always part of the appeal here, especially for shows like Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Bell X1 and Damien Dempsey.
Kaleidoscope
Where: Russborough House, Wicklow
When: 3 to 5 July
Kaleidoscope returns to Russborough House with its family-friendly mix of music, comedy, arts and children’s programming.
Natasha Bedingfield headlines on Friday, Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classics tops Saturday’s bill, and The Saw Doctors close the festival on Sunday.
Mundy, Jerry Fish Electric Sideshow and Dustin the Turkey are also part of the weekend.
Take That
Where: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
When: 4 July
Take That bring The Circus Live to the Aviva Stadium for one of the biggest pop shows of the summer.
The show revisits one of the band’s most recognisable eras, with the original Circus tour remembered for its big production, theatrical staging and huge singalong moments.
OneRepublic are guests for the Dublin date.
Dermot Kennedy
Where: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
When: 11 and 12 July
Dermot Kennedy plays two nights at the Aviva Stadium in July.
The Dublin singer-songwriter’s shows are being billed as a landmark homecoming, making him the first Irish solo artist to headline the venue across two nights.
Amble and Aaron Rowe are special guests for both shows.
Luke Combs
Where: Slane Castle, Co Meath
When: 18 and 19 July
Luke Combs brings his My Kinda Saturday Night tour to Slane Castle for two nights in July, with a second date added after a stampeed for tickets.
The shows will be the first concerts at Slane since Harry Styles played there in 2023, and the first since the death of Lord Henry Mount Charles, who helped turn the Co Meath estate into one of Ireland’s most famous live music venues.
The Script, Ty Myers and The Castellows are special guests for both dates.
All Together Now
Where: Curraghmore Estate, Co Waterford
When: 30 July to 2 August
All Together Now returns to Curraghmore Estate for the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Pulp, Kneecap, Disclosure, Underworld, The Mary Wallopers, Christy Moore, Maribou State, Self Esteem, Ezra Collective, Floating Points, Mall Grab, Mogwai and Damien Dempsey are among the acts announced.
Pulp headline Friday night in what is being described as their first festival headline slot in 15 years.
Kneecap will play their first All Together Now and their only Irish festival of 2026, while Christy Moore is making his first Irish festival appearance in 14 years.
Live at the Breakwater
Where: Ferrybank, Wexford
When: 7 to 15 August
Live at the Breakwater brings a run of outdoor shows to Wexford in August.
The programme includes Qween with Dublin Gospel Choir, The Big Session with The Whistlin’ Donkeys, Ruaile Buaile and DJ Mark McCabe, Dec Pierce’s Block Rockin’ Beats, and Cian Ducrot.
Cian Ducrot’s date gives the Wexford run one of its biggest contemporary pop bookings.
Live at the Docklands
Where: Limerick Docklands
When: 14 to 22 August
Live at the Docklands returns to Limerick with Qween, Dec Pierce, Cian Ducrot and Amble among the acts.
Amble play three nights from 20 to 22 August, after a third date was added following two rapid sell-outs.
Belfast Vital
Where: Boucher Road Playing Fields, Belfast
When: 20 and 22 August
Belfast Vital returns with two major outdoor dates.
Lewis Capaldi headlines on 20 August, with Loyle Carner as special guest. Calvin Harris plays on 22 August, with Jazzy also on the bill.
Jazzy’s slot comes after she teamed up with Harris on Satisfy, released earlier this month, adding an Irish link to one of summer's big dance hits.
The Weeknd
Where: Croke Park, Dublin
When: 22 and 23 August
The Weeknd brings his After Hours Til Dawn stadium tour to Croke Park for two nights.
The tour has been billed by promoters as the biggest R&B tour in history, and Playboi Carti joins him for the Dublin shows.
Wider Than Pictures
Where: Collins Barracks, Dublin
When: 25 to 30 August
Wider Than Pictures returns to Collins Barracks with a late-August run that includes Amyl and the Sniffers, Faye Webster, Berlioz, Mac DeMarco and Super Furry Animals.
Amyl and the Sniffers play two nights, while Super Furry Animals close the series on 30 August with Baxter Dury and Really Good Time.
Electric Picnic
Where: Stradbally Hall, Co Laois
When: 28 to 30 August
Electric Picnic brings the main festival season to a close at Stradbally.
Sombr is due to take the Friday top slot, with Gorillaz headlining on Saturday and Fontaines D.C. closing the festival on Sunday. CMAT is also among the big names this year, bringing her summer from St Anne’s Park to Stradbally.
Further acts include Zara Larsson, Skepta, Loyle Carner, Wolf Alice, The Mary Wallopers, The Saw Doctors, Florence Road and Duke Dumont.
Bon Jovi
Where: Croke Park, Dublin
When: 30 August
Bon Jovi bring their Forever Tour to Croke Park for one of the final major stadium shows of the summer.
It will be the band’s first Irish show since their two nights at the RDS in 2019.
