Event Details
Welcome to Galway International Arts Festival
The Galway International Arts Festival (GIAF) is one of Europe's most celebrated multidisciplinary arts events. Every July, Galway on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way transforms for two extraordinary weeks into a city-wide stage for music, theatre, dance, circus, visual art and street spectacle. In 2027, GIAF reaches a landmark milestone: its 50th anniversary, promising an edition of historic ambition and creative scale.
Highlights
- Heineken Big Top at Fisheries Field: the festival's flagship concert venue with international headliners
- Theatre programme at Town Hall Theatre and An Taibhdhearc
- Visual arts at the Festival Gallery on William Street
- Circus spectacle and street performances throughout the city centre
- First Thought Talks: an ideas platform tackling global themes
- Extensive free programme of outdoor art and public installations
- Live sessions and concerts in Galway's legendary pubs and music venues
Program
GIAF delivers more than 200 events across 25 venues every year. The Heineken Big Top at Fisheries Field, just five minutes on foot from Eyre Square and beside the Salmon Weir Bridge, is the beating heart of the music programme, hosting international icons alongside Irish legends. The theatre strand is anchored each year by Druid Theatre, one of Ireland's most internationally acclaimed companies. Alongside ticketed headline events, a rich free programme of street performances, art installations and spontaneous pub sessions fills every corner of the city. The full 2027 programme will be announced in spring 2027.
50 Years of GIAF: The Anniversary Edition 2027
Founded in 1978, the Galway International Arts Festival celebrates its 50th birthday in 2027. Over five decades, the festival has played a defining role in shaping Ireland's cultural landscape and establishing Galway as a world-class arts destination on the Wild Atlantic Way. The anniversary edition is expected to deliver an especially ambitious programme that honours the festival's history while setting new creative benchmarks for the next fifty years.
Tickets
A large part of GIAF is entirely free of charge, including all street performances, public art installations and much of the outdoor programme. Ticketed events include concerts at the Heineken Big Top, theatre productions and selected special events. Prices typically range from around €20 for talks and smaller shows up to approximately €75 for major Big Top concerts. Tickets are available through the official festival website. A Friend of the Festival membership provides priority booking access ahead of the general public.
Visitor Tips
- Book tickets for headline concerts and main theatre productions as early as possible; popular shows frequently sell out weeks in advance.
- Always carry a light waterproof jacket, even in sunshine; Atlantic weather in the West of Ireland can change quickly.
- The Heineken Big Top is just a five-minute walk from Eyre Square, Galway's central hub.
- Some of the best festival moments are completely free: street spectacles, art installations and spontaneous pub sessions are at the heart of the GIAF experience.
- Book accommodation several months in advance; hotels and guesthouses in Galway fill up rapidly during the festival period.
- Galway is compact and very walkable. Visitors from elsewhere in Ireland can take Irish Rail from Dublin (approximately 2 hours) or one of the frequent coach services.
