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 (last updated on Tuesday 10 November 2020). If you are a festival organiser and you'd like me to update the details of your festival listed below, please email me: 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]
Ballydonoghue Bardic Festival 19–22 March Ballydonoghue/Lisselton, Co Kerry Facebook/BallydonoghueBardicFestival [Postponed]
Cork International Poetry Festival 24–28 March, Cork @MunLitCentre [Cancelled]
Mountains to Sea dlr Book Festival 26–29 March, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin
@mountainstosea [Cancelled]
Belfast Children's Festival, 6–11 March, Belfast @Young_at_Art
Kanturk Arts Festival 13–17 March, Kanturk, Co Cork @KanturkArts [Postponed]
Ballydonoghue Bardic Festival 19–22 March Ballydonoghue/Lisselton, Co Kerry Facebook/BallydonoghueBardicFestival [Postponed]
Cork International Poetry Festival 24–28 March, Cork @MunLitCentre [Cancelled]
Mountains to Sea dlr Book Festival 26–29 March, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin
@mountainstosea [Cancelled]
April
Dublin: One City One Book 1–30 April, Dublin @1city1book [Events cancelled]
Franco-Irish Literary Festival 3–5 April, Dublin @afdublin [Cancelled. Next year's festival is scheduled for 26–28 March 2021]
Brewery Lane Writers' Weekend 17–19 April, Carrick on Suir, Co Tipperary
@BrewerLaneT [Postponed]
Cúirt International Festival of Literature 23–25 April, Galway @CuirtFestival [Changed to a digital festival]
Cork World Book Fest 21–26 April, Cork @WorldBookFest [Cancelled. Some events deferred till later in 2020]
Hillsborough Festival of Literature & Ideas 24–26 April, Hillsborough, Co Down
@The_JHS [Cancelled]
Strokestown International Poetry Festival 30 April–4 May, Strokestown, Co Roscommon
@Strokestownpoem [Postponed]
Franco-Irish Literary Festival 3–5 April, Dublin @afdublin [Cancelled. Next year's festival is scheduled for 26–28 March 2021]
Brewery Lane Writers' Weekend 17–19 April, Carrick on Suir, Co Tipperary
@BrewerLaneT [Postponed]
Cúirt International Festival of Literature 23–25 April, Galway @CuirtFestival [Changed to a digital festival]
Cork World Book Fest 21–26 April, Cork @WorldBookFest [Cancelled. Some events deferred till later in 2020]
Hillsborough Festival of Literature & Ideas 24–26 April, Hillsborough, Co Down
@The_JHS [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 [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
[Cancelled]
International Literature Festival Dublin 15–24 May, Dublin @ILFDublin [Postponed until autumn 2020]
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 [Cancelled]
Goldsmith International Literary Festival 29–31 May, various locations in Co Longford
@Goldsmithfest [Cancelled]
@TowersandTales [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
[Cancelled]
International Literature Festival Dublin 15–24 May, Dublin @ILFDublin [Postponed until autumn 2020]
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 [Cancelled]
Goldsmith International Literary Festival 29–31 May, various locations in Co Longford
@Goldsmithfest [Cancelled]
June
The Shaking Bog Nature Writing Festival June, Glencree Valley, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow
@the shakingbog [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 [Cancelled]
Bloomsday Festival 11–16 June, Dublin @bloomsdayfest [Changed to a digital festival]
Dalkey Book Festival 18–21 June, Dalkey, Co Dublin @dalkeybookfest [Cancelled]
Kanturk Arts Festival 18–21 June, Kanturk, Co Cork @KanturkArts [Postponed]
Hinterland Festival of Literature and Arts 27–28 June, Kells, Co Meath @HinterlandKells
[Changed to an online festival. Next year's festival is provisionally scheduled for 24–27 June 2021]
@the shakingbog [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 [Cancelled]
Bloomsday Festival 11–16 June, Dublin @bloomsdayfest [Changed to a digital festival]
Dalkey Book Festival 18–21 June, Dalkey, Co Dublin @dalkeybookfest [Cancelled]
Kanturk Arts Festival 18–21 June, Kanturk, Co Cork @KanturkArts [Postponed]
Hinterland Festival of Literature and Arts 27–28 June, Kells, Co Meath @HinterlandKells
[Changed to an online festival. Next year's festival is provisionally scheduled for 24–27 June 2021]
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
[Cancelled]
West Cork Literary Festival 10–17 July, Bantry, Co Cork @wcorklitfest [Cancelled. Next year's festival is scheduled for 9–16 July 2021]
Gerard Manley Hopkins International Literary Festival 24–30 July, Newbridge, Co Kildare
[Cancelled]
John Hewitt Society International Summer School 30 July–1 August, Armagh @The_JHS
[Changed to a digital festival]
Blueway Poetry Festival August Bank Holiday, Lismore, Co Waterford @BluewayPoetry
[Postponed until 'later this year']
Allihies Inspires Festival 3–5 July, Allihies village, Beara, Co Cork @Allihiesinspire
[Cancelled]
West Cork Literary Festival 10–17 July, Bantry, Co Cork @wcorklitfest [Cancelled. Next year's festival is scheduled for 9–16 July 2021]
Gerard Manley Hopkins International Literary Festival 24–30 July, Newbridge, Co Kildare
[Cancelled]
John Hewitt Society International Summer School 30 July–1 August, Armagh @The_JHS
[Changed to a digital festival]
Blueway Poetry Festival August Bank Holiday, Lismore, Co Waterford @BluewayPoetry
[Postponed until 'later this year']
August
Wexworlds Sci-Fi and Fantasy Fiction Festival 24–25 August*, Wexford @wexworlds
[No 2020 information available]
TitanCon, science fiction and fantasy literature festival, 28–30 August, Belfast
@TitanConBelfast [Cancelled]
[No 2020 information available]
TitanCon, science fiction and fantasy literature festival, 28–30 August, Belfast
@TitanConBelfast [Cancelled]
September
The Write Time Festival, 1–30 September, Dublin @fingallibraries [Changed to an online festival]
International Dublin Writers' Festival 11–13 September, Dublin @YourNewBooks
[Changed to an online event]
Féile Fidelma Mystery Fiction Weekend 17–20 September, Cashel, Co Tipperary
@Cashelartsfest ['The festival will go ahead this year in a reimagined way']
Bray Literary Festival 18–20 September, Bray, Co Wicklow @braylitfest
Festival of Writing and Ideas 18–20 September, Borris, Co Carlow @Writingandideas
[Postponed until 2021. Next year's festival is scheduled for 11–13 June 2021]
Children's Books Ireland International Conference 19–20 September, Dublin
@KidsBooksIrel [Cancelled]
Aspects Festival 23 September–4 October, Bangor, Co Down @aspectsfestival
Write By The Sea Festival 25–27 September, Kilmore Quay, Co Wexford @write_KQ
[Cancelled. Next year's festival is scheduled for 24–26 September 2021]
Graiguenamanagh Town of Books Festival September, Graiguenamanagh,
Co Kilkenny Facebook/IrelandsBooktown [End of September dates to be confirmed]
International Dublin Writers' Festival 11–13 September, Dublin @YourNewBooks
[Changed to an online event]
Féile Fidelma Mystery Fiction Weekend 17–20 September, Cashel, Co Tipperary
@Cashelartsfest ['The festival will go ahead this year in a reimagined way']
Bray Literary Festival 18–20 September, Bray, Co Wicklow @braylitfest
Festival of Writing and Ideas 18–20 September, Borris, Co Carlow @Writingandideas
[Postponed until 2021. Next year's festival is scheduled for 11–13 June 2021]
Children's Books Ireland International Conference 19–20 September, Dublin
@KidsBooksIrel [Cancelled]
Aspects Festival 23 September–4 October, Bangor, Co Down @aspectsfestival
Write By The Sea Festival 25–27 September, Kilmore Quay, Co Wexford @write_KQ
[Cancelled. Next year's festival is scheduled for 24–26 September 2021]
Graiguenamanagh Town of Books Festival September, Graiguenamanagh,
Co Kilkenny Facebook/IrelandsBooktown [End of September dates to be confirmed]
October
Aspects Festival 23 September–4 October, Bangor, Co Down @aspectsfestival
Words by Water, Kinsale Literary Festival, 1–4 October, Kinsale, Co Cork
@WordsByWater ['Will be a different experience this year']
Kildare Readers Festival 1–18 October, throughout Co Kildare @KildareReaders
Children's Book Festival, 1–31 October, Wexford @wexlibraries [Going ahead in a 'slightly different' format]
Echoes: Maeve Binchy and Irish Writers Festival 2–4 October, Dalkey,
Co Dublin @echoesdalkey [Cancelled. Next year's festival is scheduled for 1–3 October 2021]
Iron Mountain Literature Festival 3–4 October, Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim
Facebook/IronMountainFestival [Cancelled]
Éigse Michael Hartnett Festival 1–3 October, Newcastle West, Co Limerick
@EigseMHartnett [Cancelled]
Dromineer Nenagh Literary Festival 1–4 October, Dromineer, Nenagh,
Co Tipperary @DNLitFest [Going ahead as a live festival with limited audiences]
Cork International Short Story Festival 6–10 October, Cork @MunLitCentre [Changed to an online festival]
NOIRELAND International Crime Fiction Festival 10 October, Belfast @NOIRELANDfest
[Cancelled]
Bookville Festival Kilkenny (for Children and Families) 12–18 October, throughout Co Kilkenny @BookvilleKK [2020 festival reimagined into an activity book, available free from public libraries and primary schools in early September]
Red Line Book Festival 12–18 October, Dublin @RedLineBookFest [2020 festival will include an online and offline programme]
Octocon, the National Irish Science Fiction Convention 9–11 October, Dublin @Octocon
[2020 festival will be 'virtual and free']
Omagh Literary Festival: Honouring Benedict Kiely 9–11 October, Omagh, Co Tyrone
@kiely_weekend [Cancelled]
ISLA (Irish, Spanish and Latin American) Literary Festival 15–17 October, Dublin
@ICDublin [Changed to an online festival]
Waterford Writers’ Weekend (part of the Imagine Arts Festival) 23–25 October, Waterford @Wwritersweekend @Imagine_Fest
Bram Stoker Festival 30 October – 2 November, Dublin @bramstokerdub
Words by Water, Kinsale Literary Festival, 1–4 October, Kinsale, Co Cork
@WordsByWater ['Will be a different experience this year']
Kildare Readers Festival 1–18 October, throughout Co Kildare @KildareReaders
Children's Book Festival, 1–31 October, Wexford @wexlibraries [Going ahead in a 'slightly different' format]
Echoes: Maeve Binchy and Irish Writers Festival 2–4 October, Dalkey,
Co Dublin @echoesdalkey [Cancelled. Next year's festival is scheduled for 1–3 October 2021]
Iron Mountain Literature Festival 3–4 October, Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim
Facebook/IronMountainFestival [Cancelled]
Éigse Michael Hartnett Festival 1–3 October, Newcastle West, Co Limerick
@EigseMHartnett [Cancelled]
Dromineer Nenagh Literary Festival 1–4 October, Dromineer, Nenagh,
Co Tipperary @DNLitFest [Going ahead as a live festival with limited audiences]
Cork International Short Story Festival 6–10 October, Cork @MunLitCentre [Changed to an online festival]
NOIRELAND International Crime Fiction Festival 10 October, Belfast @NOIRELANDfest
[Cancelled]
Bookville Festival Kilkenny (for Children and Families) 12–18 October, throughout Co Kilkenny @BookvilleKK [2020 festival reimagined into an activity book, available free from public libraries and primary schools in early September]
Red Line Book Festival 12–18 October, Dublin @RedLineBookFest [2020 festival will include an online and offline programme]
Octocon, the National Irish Science Fiction Convention 9–11 October, Dublin @Octocon
[2020 festival will be 'virtual and free']
Omagh Literary Festival: Honouring Benedict Kiely 9–11 October, Omagh, Co Tyrone
@kiely_weekend [Cancelled]
ISLA (Irish, Spanish and Latin American) Literary Festival 15–17 October, Dublin
@ICDublin [Changed to an online festival]
Waterford Writers’ Weekend (part of the Imagine Arts Festival) 23–25 October, Waterford @Wwritersweekend @Imagine_Fest
Bram Stoker Festival 30 October – 2 November, Dublin @bramstokerdub
November
Bram Stoker Festival 30 October – 2 November, Dublin @bramstokerdub
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 throughout November [dates TBC], Dublin @MurderOneFest [Changed to an online festival. It will run in connection with the Dublin Book Festival]
Leaves Festival of Writing & Music 3–7 November, Portlaoise, Co Laois @leavesfestival
Allingham Festival 4–8 November, Ballyshannon, Co Donegal @AllinghamArts [Changed to an online festival]
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 [Changed to an online festival]
Rolling Sun Book Festival 21–24 November, Westport, Co Mayo
Facebook/RollingSunBookFestival [Cancelled. The festival committee hope to host an event in spring 2021]
C.S. Lewis Festival 20–22 November, Belfast @CSLewsisFest [Changed to an online and outdoor festival]
Dalkey Creates Festival 26–28 November, Dalkey, Co Dublin @DalkeyCreates
[Cancelled]
Dublin Book Festival 27 November–6 December, Dublin @DublinBookFest [Changed to a digital festival]
Imram Féile Litríochta Gaeilge (Irish Language Literature Festival) 19 November–6 December (as part of the Dublin Book Festival) Facebook/FeileImram [Changed to an online festival]
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 throughout November [dates TBC], Dublin @MurderOneFest [Changed to an online festival. It will run in connection with the Dublin Book Festival]
Leaves Festival of Writing & Music 3–7 November, Portlaoise, Co Laois @leavesfestival
Allingham Festival 4–8 November, Ballyshannon, Co Donegal @AllinghamArts [Changed to an online festival]
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 [Changed to an online festival]
Rolling Sun Book Festival 21–24 November, Westport, Co Mayo
Facebook/RollingSunBookFestival [Cancelled. The festival committee hope to host an event in spring 2021]
C.S. Lewis Festival 20–22 November, Belfast @CSLewsisFest [Changed to an online and outdoor festival]
Dalkey Creates Festival 26–28 November, Dalkey, Co Dublin @DalkeyCreates
[Cancelled]
Dublin Book Festival 27 November–6 December, Dublin @DublinBookFest [Changed to a digital festival]
Imram Féile Litríochta Gaeilge (Irish Language Literature Festival) 19 November–6 December (as part of the Dublin Book Festival) Facebook/FeileImram [Changed to an online festival]
December
Dublin Book Festival 27 November–6 December, Dublin @DublinBookFest [Changed to a digital festival]
Imram Féile Litríochta Gaeilge (Irish Language Literature Festival) 19 November–6 December (as part of the Dublin Book Festival) Facebook/FeileImram [Changed to an online festival]
Imram Féile Litríochta Gaeilge (Irish Language Literature Festival) 19 November–6 December (as part of the Dublin Book Festival) Facebook/FeileImram [Changed to an online 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)
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