Photo credit: Chris Greene
Covid-19 update
I'm continually updating this 2020 list with details of cancelled or postponed festivals where festival organisers have made that information available (current update: 8 July 2020). If you are a festival organiser and you'd like me to update the details of your festival listed below, please email me at: info@marymccauleyproofreading.com
Here's a comprehensive list of literary, book, writing and reading festivals throughout the island of Ireland in 2020. I've done the research so you don't have to ... all you have to do is decide which festivals to go to!
Some festivals haven't published their 2020 dates yet, so I've given their 2019 dates as a guide (indicated by an *) for now. I'll update this list when those 2020 dates are announced. If your festival isn't included in my list and you would like it to be, please email the details to me at: info@marymccauleyproofreading.com.
Some festivals haven't published their 2020 dates yet, so I've given their 2019 dates as a guide (indicated by an *) for now. I'll update this list when those 2020 dates are announced. If your festival isn't included in my list and you would like it to be, please email the details to me at: info@marymccauleyproofreading.com.
January
February
Limerick Literary Festival 21–23 February, Limerick @kobweekend
March
Ennis Book Club Festival 6–8 March, Ennis, Co Clare @ebcf
Belfast Children's Festival, 6–11 March, Belfast @Young_at_Art
Kanturk Arts Festival 13–17 March, Kanturk, Co Cork @KanturkArts [Postponed – 'hoping to reschedule to 18–21 June']
Ballydonoghue Bardic Festival 19–22 March Ballydonoghue/Lisselton, Co Kerry Facebook/BallydonoghueBardicFestival [Postponed]
Cork International Poetry Festival 24–28 March, Cork @MunLitCentre
[2020 festival cancelled]
Mountains to Sea dlr Book Festival 26–29 March, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin
@mountainstosea [2020 festival cancelled]
Belfast Children's Festival, 6–11 March, Belfast @Young_at_Art
Kanturk Arts Festival 13–17 March, Kanturk, Co Cork @KanturkArts [Postponed – 'hoping to reschedule to 18–21 June']
Ballydonoghue Bardic Festival 19–22 March Ballydonoghue/Lisselton, Co Kerry Facebook/BallydonoghueBardicFestival [Postponed]
Cork International Poetry Festival 24–28 March, Cork @MunLitCentre
[2020 festival cancelled]
Mountains to Sea dlr Book Festival 26–29 March, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin
@mountainstosea [2020 festival cancelled]
April
Dublin: One City One Book 1–30 April, Dublin @1city1book [Events cancelled]
Franco-Irish Literary Festival 3–5 April, Dublin @afdublin
[2020 festival cancelled. 2021 festival dates: 26–28 March 2021]
Brewery Lane Writers' Weekend 17–19 April, Carrick on Suir, Co Tipperary @BrewerLaneT [Postponed until further notice]
Cúirt International Festival of Literature 23–25 April, Galway @CuirtFestival
[Changed to a digital festival]
Cork World Book Fest 21–26 April, Cork @WorldBookFest
[2020 festival cancelled. Some events deferred till later in 2020]
Hillsborough Festival of Literature & Ideas 24–26 April, Hillsborough, Co Down @The_JHS [2020 festival cancelled]
Strokestown International Poetry Festival 30 April–4 May, Strokestown,
Co Roscommon @Strokestownpoem [Postponed]
Franco-Irish Literary Festival 3–5 April, Dublin @afdublin
[2020 festival cancelled. 2021 festival dates: 26–28 March 2021]
Brewery Lane Writers' Weekend 17–19 April, Carrick on Suir, Co Tipperary @BrewerLaneT [Postponed until further notice]
Cúirt International Festival of Literature 23–25 April, Galway @CuirtFestival
[Changed to a digital festival]
Cork World Book Fest 21–26 April, Cork @WorldBookFest
[2020 festival cancelled. Some events deferred till later in 2020]
Hillsborough Festival of Literature & Ideas 24–26 April, Hillsborough, Co Down @The_JHS [2020 festival cancelled]
Strokestown International Poetry Festival 30 April–4 May, Strokestown,
Co Roscommon @Strokestownpoem [Postponed]
May
Towers and Tales Lismore Story Festival 1–2 May, Lismore, Co Waterford
@TowersandTales [2020 festival cancelled. Some events moved online]
Annual Heinrich Böll Memorial Weekend 1–3 May, Dugort, Achill Island, Co Mayo Facebook\AchillHeinrich BöllAssociation [Postponed]
Marie Edgeworth Literary Festival 4–10 May, Edgeworthstown, Longford @edgeworthsoc
[2020 festival cancelled]
International Literature Festival Dublin 15–24 May, Dublin @ILFDublin [Postponed]
Padraic Colum International Literary Festival 15–16 May, Longford @CreativeLongfd
[No update available]
Ennistymon Book Town Festival 23–24 May, Ennistymon, Co Clare @BooksEnnistymon
[Postponed]
Listowel Writers’ Week 27–31 May, Listowel, Co Kerry @Writersweek [2020 festival cancelled]
Goldsmith International Literary Festival 29–31 May, various locations in Co Longford @Goldsmithfest [2020 festival cancelled]
@TowersandTales [2020 festival cancelled. Some events moved online]
Annual Heinrich Böll Memorial Weekend 1–3 May, Dugort, Achill Island, Co Mayo Facebook\AchillHeinrich BöllAssociation [Postponed]
Marie Edgeworth Literary Festival 4–10 May, Edgeworthstown, Longford @edgeworthsoc
[2020 festival cancelled]
International Literature Festival Dublin 15–24 May, Dublin @ILFDublin [Postponed]
Padraic Colum International Literary Festival 15–16 May, Longford @CreativeLongfd
[No update available]
Ennistymon Book Town Festival 23–24 May, Ennistymon, Co Clare @BooksEnnistymon
[Postponed]
Listowel Writers’ Week 27–31 May, Listowel, Co Kerry @Writersweek [2020 festival cancelled]
Goldsmith International Literary Festival 29–31 May, various locations in Co Longford @Goldsmithfest [2020 festival cancelled]
June
The Shaking Bog Nature Writing Festival June, Glencree Valley, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow @the shakingbog [2020 festival cancelled]
Immrama – Lismore Festival of Travel Writing is taking a break this year but hopes to return next year, Lismore, Co Waterford @lismoreimmrama
Belfast Book Festival 5–14 June, Belfast @BelfastBookFest [2020 festival cancelled]
Bloomsday Festival 11–16 June, Dublin @bloomsdayfest [Changed to a digital festival]
Dalkey Book Festival 18–21 June, Dalkey, Co Dublin @dalkeybookfest [Postponed]
Kanturk Arts Festival 18–21 June, Kanturk, Co Cork @KanturkArts
[Postponed]
Hinterland Festival of Literature and Arts 25–28 June, Kells, Co Meath @HinterlandKells
[2020 festival cancelled. Provisional 2021 festival dates: 24–27 June. Organisers hope to run a 'small scale, heavily curtailed Hinterland in a Hurry Festival in late September/early October if current regulations have been eased'.]
Immrama – Lismore Festival of Travel Writing is taking a break this year but hopes to return next year, Lismore, Co Waterford @lismoreimmrama
Belfast Book Festival 5–14 June, Belfast @BelfastBookFest [2020 festival cancelled]
Bloomsday Festival 11–16 June, Dublin @bloomsdayfest [Changed to a digital festival]
Dalkey Book Festival 18–21 June, Dalkey, Co Dublin @dalkeybookfest [Postponed]
Kanturk Arts Festival 18–21 June, Kanturk, Co Cork @KanturkArts
[Postponed]
Hinterland Festival of Literature and Arts 25–28 June, Kells, Co Meath @HinterlandKells
[2020 festival cancelled. Provisional 2021 festival dates: 24–27 June. Organisers hope to run a 'small scale, heavily curtailed Hinterland in a Hurry Festival in late September/early October if current regulations have been eased'.]
July
Wexford Literary Festival 3–5 July, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford @WexfordLitFest
[Changed to a digital festival]
Allihies Inspires Festival 3–5 July, Allihies village, Beara, Co Cork @Allihiesinspire
[2020 festival cancelled]
West Cork Literary Festival 10–17 July, Bantry, Co Cork @wcorklitfest
[2020 festival cancelled]
Gerard Manley Hopkins International Literary Festival 24–30 July, Newbridge, Co Kildare
[2020 festival cancelled]
John Hewitt Society International Summer School last week of July, Armagh @The_JHS
[2020 event cancelled]
Blueway Poetry Festival 31 July–2 August Lismore, Co Waterford @BluewayPoetry
[Postponed until later in 2020 – no dates confirmed yet]
[Changed to a digital festival]
Allihies Inspires Festival 3–5 July, Allihies village, Beara, Co Cork @Allihiesinspire
[2020 festival cancelled]
West Cork Literary Festival 10–17 July, Bantry, Co Cork @wcorklitfest
[2020 festival cancelled]
Gerard Manley Hopkins International Literary Festival 24–30 July, Newbridge, Co Kildare
[2020 festival cancelled]
John Hewitt Society International Summer School last week of July, Armagh @The_JHS
[2020 event cancelled]
Blueway Poetry Festival 31 July–2 August Lismore, Co Waterford @BluewayPoetry
[Postponed until later in 2020 – no dates confirmed yet]
August
Graiguenamanagh Town of Books Festival 21–23 August, Graiguenamanagh,
Co Kilkenny Facebook/IrelandsBooktown
Wexworlds Sci-Fi and Fantasy Fiction Festival 24–25 August*, Wexford @wexworlds
[No 2020 information]
TitanCon, science fiction and fantasy literature festival, 28–30 August, Belfast @TitanConBelfast [2020 festival cancelled]
Co Kilkenny Facebook/IrelandsBooktown
Wexworlds Sci-Fi and Fantasy Fiction Festival 24–25 August*, Wexford @wexworlds
[No 2020 information]
TitanCon, science fiction and fantasy literature festival, 28–30 August, Belfast @TitanConBelfast [2020 festival cancelled]
September
The Write Time Festival, 1–30 September*, Dublin @fingallibraries
International Dublin Writers' Festival 10–13 September, Dublin @YourNewBooks
Féile Fidelma Mystery Fiction Weekend 17–20 September, Cashel, Co Tipperary @Cashelartsfest
Bray Literary Festival 18–20 September, Bray, Co Wicklow @braylitfest
Festival of Writing and Ideas 18–20 September, Borris, Co Carlow @Writingandideas
Children's Books Ireland International Conference 19–20 September, Dublin @KidsBooksIrel
Cork International Short Story Festival 23–26 September, Cork @MunLitCentre
Aspects Festival 23 September–4 October, Bangor, Co Down @aspectsfestival
Write By The Sea Festival 25–27 September, Kilmore Quay, Co Wexford @write_KQ
[2020 festival cancelled. Next year's festival is scheduled for 24–26 September 2021]
International Dublin Writers' Festival 10–13 September, Dublin @YourNewBooks
Féile Fidelma Mystery Fiction Weekend 17–20 September, Cashel, Co Tipperary @Cashelartsfest
Bray Literary Festival 18–20 September, Bray, Co Wicklow @braylitfest
Festival of Writing and Ideas 18–20 September, Borris, Co Carlow @Writingandideas
Children's Books Ireland International Conference 19–20 September, Dublin @KidsBooksIrel
Cork International Short Story Festival 23–26 September, Cork @MunLitCentre
Aspects Festival 23 September–4 October, Bangor, Co Down @aspectsfestival
Write By The Sea Festival 25–27 September, Kilmore Quay, Co Wexford @write_KQ
[2020 festival cancelled. Next year's festival is scheduled for 24–26 September 2021]
October
Aspects Festival 23 September–4 October, Bangor, Co Down @aspectsfestival
Words by Water, Kinsale Literary Festival, 1–4 October, Kinsale, Co Cork
@WordsByWater
Kildare Readers Festival 1–18 October, throughout Co Kildare @KildareReaders
Children's Book Festival, 1–31 October*, Wexford @wexlibraries
Echoes: Maeve Binchy and Irish Writers Festival 2–4 October, Dalkey, Co Dublin @echoesdalkey
Iron Mountain Literature Festival 3–4 October, Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim Facebook/IronMountainFestival
Éigse Michael Hartnett Festival 1–3 October, Newcastle West, Co Limerick @EigseMHartnett
Dromineer Nenagh Literary Festival 3–6 October*, Dromineer, Nenagh,
Co Tipperary @DNLitFest
Imram Irish Language Literature Festival 4–26 October*, Dublin @Feile_IMRAM
NOIRELAND International Crime Fiction Festival 10 October, Belfast @NOIRELANDfest
Bookville Festival Kilkenny 12–18 October, throughout Co Kilkenny @BookvilleKK
Red Line Book Festival 12–18 October, Dublin @RedLineBookFest
Octocon, the National Irish Science Fiction Convention 9–11 October, Dublin @Octocon
Omagh Literary Festival: Honouring Benedict Kiely 9–11 October, Omagh, Co Tyrone @kiely_weekend
ISLA (Irish, Spanish and Latin American) Literary Festival 17–18 October*, Dublin @ICDublin
Bram Stoker Festival 23–26 October, Dublin @bramstokerdub
Waterford Writers’ Weekend (part of the Imagine Arts Festival) 23–25 October, Waterford @Wwritersweekend @Imagine_Fest
Words by Water, Kinsale Literary Festival, 1–4 October, Kinsale, Co Cork
@WordsByWater
Kildare Readers Festival 1–18 October, throughout Co Kildare @KildareReaders
Children's Book Festival, 1–31 October*, Wexford @wexlibraries
Echoes: Maeve Binchy and Irish Writers Festival 2–4 October, Dalkey, Co Dublin @echoesdalkey
Iron Mountain Literature Festival 3–4 October, Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim Facebook/IronMountainFestival
Éigse Michael Hartnett Festival 1–3 October, Newcastle West, Co Limerick @EigseMHartnett
Dromineer Nenagh Literary Festival 3–6 October*, Dromineer, Nenagh,
Co Tipperary @DNLitFest
Imram Irish Language Literature Festival 4–26 October*, Dublin @Feile_IMRAM
NOIRELAND International Crime Fiction Festival 10 October, Belfast @NOIRELANDfest
Bookville Festival Kilkenny 12–18 October, throughout Co Kilkenny @BookvilleKK
Red Line Book Festival 12–18 October, Dublin @RedLineBookFest
Octocon, the National Irish Science Fiction Convention 9–11 October, Dublin @Octocon
Omagh Literary Festival: Honouring Benedict Kiely 9–11 October, Omagh, Co Tyrone @kiely_weekend
ISLA (Irish, Spanish and Latin American) Literary Festival 17–18 October*, Dublin @ICDublin
Bram Stoker Festival 23–26 October, Dublin @bramstokerdub
Waterford Writers’ Weekend (part of the Imagine Arts Festival) 23–25 October, Waterford @Wwritersweekend @Imagine_Fest
November
John O'Connor Writing School Literary Arts Festival [did not go ahead in 2019, and 2020 dates not yet announced], Armagh @johnoconnorws
Murder One International Crime Writing Festival 1–3 November*, Dublin @MurderOneFest [2020 festival cancelled]
Leaves Festival of Writing & Music 3–7 November, Portlaoise, Co Laois @leavesfestival
Allingham Festival 4–8 November, Ballyshannon, Co Donegal @AllinghamArts
The Lit: Festival of Reading and Writing for Young Adults 19–21 November, Waterford
@TheLitYWF
Dingle Literary Festival 20–22 November, Dingle, Co Kerry @DingleLit
Rolling Sun Book Festival 21–24 November*, Westport, Co Mayo
Facebook/RollingSunBookFestival
C.S. Lewis Festival 22–26 November*, Belfast @CSLewsisFest
Dalkey Creates Festival 26–28 November, Dalkey, Co Dublin @DalkeyCreates
Dublin Book Festival 27 November–6 December, Dublin @DublinBookFest
[Changed to a digital festival]
Murder One International Crime Writing Festival 1–3 November*, Dublin @MurderOneFest [2020 festival cancelled]
Leaves Festival of Writing & Music 3–7 November, Portlaoise, Co Laois @leavesfestival
Allingham Festival 4–8 November, Ballyshannon, Co Donegal @AllinghamArts
The Lit: Festival of Reading and Writing for Young Adults 19–21 November, Waterford
@TheLitYWF
Dingle Literary Festival 20–22 November, Dingle, Co Kerry @DingleLit
Rolling Sun Book Festival 21–24 November*, Westport, Co Mayo
Facebook/RollingSunBookFestival
C.S. Lewis Festival 22–26 November*, Belfast @CSLewsisFest
Dalkey Creates Festival 26–28 November, Dalkey, Co Dublin @DalkeyCreates
Dublin Book Festival 27 November–6 December, Dublin @DublinBookFest
[Changed to a digital festival]
December
Dublin Book Festival 27 November–6 December, Dublin @DublinBookFest
[Changed to a digital festival]
[Changed to a digital festival]
*2019 dates. The dates for 2020 have not been announced yet. I’ll update this listing when they become available.
If you'd like me to include your 2020 book, literary, writing or reading festival in my 2020 list, please send the details to me at info@marymccauleyproofreading.com. Thanks!
If you'd like me to include your 2020 book, literary, writing or reading festival in my 2020 list, please send the details to me at info@marymccauleyproofreading.com. Thanks!
Related posts
Literary and book festivals in Ireland 2019
Literary and book festivals in Ireland 2018
Literary and book festivals in Ireland 2017
Literary and book festivals in Ireland 2016
Writing courses and literary festivals in Ireland (summer 2015)
Literary and book festivals in Ireland 2018
Literary and book festivals in Ireland 2017
Literary and book festivals in Ireland 2016
Writing courses and literary festivals in Ireland (summer 2015)
If you would like to receive Letters from an Irish Editor blog posts, please use the subscribe section at the top right of this page.
