Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026

Competitions

All-Ireland level competitions are at the heart of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. With over 180 categories, the Fleadh brings together the very best in traditional music, song, dance and language.

Browse the timetable View venues on the map

The pinnacle of traditional arts

From fiddle to flute and sean-nós singing to céilí dancing, these finals represent the highest standard of traditional arts. Performers from across the world earn their place through county and provincial qualification.

Every note, every step and every voice carries a story and creates a champion. From the hush of a slow air to the thunder of dancing feet, audiences can witness months and years of dedication and skill play out on stage.

The competitions take place over the final three days of the Fleadh, from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 August 2026.

Age groups

Under 12
12–15
15–18
Over 18 (Senior)

What you’ll see

Core competition categories

Solo Instrument

Fidil (Fiddle)
Bosca Ceoil (Button Accordion)
Feadóg Mhór (Flute)
Feadóg (Whistle)
Cairdín Pianó (Piano Accordion)
Consairtín (Concertina)
Píb Uilleann (Uilleann Pipes)
Cruit (Irish Harp)
Orgán Béil (Mouth Organ)
Bainseó (Banjo)
Maindilín (Mandolin)
Pianó (Piano)
Mileoideon (Melodeon)
Bodhrán
Drumaí Céilí (Céilí Band Drums)
Rogha Ghléas (Miscellaneous Instrument)

Slow Airs (Foinn Mhalla)

Fidil (Fiddle)
Píb Uilleann (Uilleann Pipes)
Feadóg Mhór (Flute)
Feadóg (Whistle)
Cruit (Harp)

Ensembles & Groups

Ceol Beirte (Duets)
Ceol Trír (Trios)
Buíon Cheoil Chéilí (Céilí Bands)
Grúpaí Cheoil (Music Groups)

Marching Bands

Buíon Cheoil Cairdín (Accordion Band)
Buíon Cheoil Feadóg Mhór (Flute Band)
Buíon Cheoil Rogha Ghléas (Miscellaneous Band)
Buíon Cheoil Phíb (Pipe Band)

Friday 7–Sunday 9 August

Competition timetable

Search by competition or venue, then narrow the list by day and age group. Times are shown exactly as published.

Search competitions or venues

Day

Age group

178 competitions

Friday 7 August

Waterfront Main TheatreVenue info →

2:30pm
Grúpaí Ceoil
15–18
6:00pm
Céilí Bands
15–18

Waterfront Studio TheatreVenue info →

2:30pm
Uilleann Pipes
15–18
5:00pm
Rogha Ghléas
Over 18

Waterfront ICC Conference Room 3A&BVenue info →

2:30pm
Drums
12–15
4:30pm
Bodhrán
12–15

Waterfront ICC Conference Room 1A&BVenue info →

2:30pm
Harp Slow Air
12–15
4:30pm
Harp
12–15

Assembly Buildings, Main RoomVenue info →

2:30pm
Trios
Under 12
4:30pm
Duets
Under 12

Assembly Buildings, Minor HallVenue info →

2:30pm
Rogha Ghléas
15–18
5:00pm
Rogha Ghléas
Under 12

The MAC, Main TheatreVenue info →

2:30pm
Concertina
15–18
5:00pm
Newly Composed Songs (English)

The MAC, Dance StudioVenue info →

1:30pm
Ballads — Men
Under 12
3:00pm
Amhrán Fir
Under 12
4:30pm
Amhrán Mná
Under 12

The MAC, FactoryVenue info →

2:30pm
Scéalaíocht
15–18
4:00pm
Storytelling
Over 18

The MAC, WorksVenue info →

2:30pm
Scéalaíocht
Over 18
4:00pm
Storytelling
15–18

Ulster University, Lecture Theatre 1Venue info →

2:30pm
Piano
12–15
4:30pm
Accompaniment
Over 18

Ulster University, Lecture Theatre 2Venue info →

2:30pm
Banjo
12–15
4:30pm
Mandolin
12–15

Ulster University, Level 2, 308Venue info →

2:30pm
Fiddle
12–15
5:00pm
Fiddle Slow Air
12–15

Ulster University, Level 1, 206Venue info →

2:30pm
Whistle
12–15
5:00pm
Whistle Slow Air
12–15

Ulster University, Level 0, 307Venue info →

2:30pm
Flute Slow Air
12–15
4:30pm
Flute
12–15

Ulster University, BN 03 006Venue info →

2:30pm
Accompaniment
15–18
5:00pm
Uilleann Pipes Slow Air
15–18

Ulster University, BN 03 008Venue info →

3:00pm
Mouth Organ
12–15
4:30pm
Piano Accordion
12–15

Ulster University, BC 03 102Venue info →

2:30pm
Lilting
Under 12
3:30pm
Whistling
Under 12

Ulster University, Conor Lecture TheatreVenue info →

1:30pm
Ballads — Ladies
Under 12

Waterfront ICC Hall 1A&BVenue info →

9:00am
Mixed Full Set
12–15
10:30am
Ladies Full Set
12–15
12:00pm
Mixed Full Set
Under 12
1:30pm
Ladies Full Set
Under 12
3:00pm
Rince ar an Sean Nós
12–15
4:00pm
Rince ar an Sean Nós
Under 12
4:45pm
Rince ar an Sean Nós
15–18
5:30pm
Rince ar an Sean Nós
Over 18

Waterfront ICC Hall 2Venue info →

9:00am
Ladies 8 Hand Céilí
Under 12
10:00am
Mixed 8 Hand Céilí
Under 12
11:00am
Mixed 8 Hand Céilí
12–15
11:45am
Mixed 4 Hand Céilí
Under 12
1:00pm
Ladies 4 Hand Céilí
12–15
2:00pm
Ladies 4 Hand Céilí
12–15
2:45pm
Mixed 8 Hand Céilí
12–15
3:30pm
Mixed 4 Hand Céilí
12–15

Saturday 8 August

Waterfront Main TheatreVenue info →

9:30am
Grúpaí Ceoil
12–15
1:30pm
Céilí Bands
12–15
4:00pm
Grúpaí Ceoil
Over 18

Waterfront Studio TheatreVenue info →

10:00am
Duets
Over 18
1:30pm
Banjo
Over 18
5:00pm
Harp
15–18

Waterfront ICC Conference Room 3A&BVenue info →

10:00am
Drums
15–18
1:00pm
Bodhrán
15–18
4:00pm
Bodhrán
Under 12
5:30pm
Drums
Under 12

Waterfront ICC Conference Room 1A&BVenue info →

10:00am
Harp
Over 18
1:30pm
Harp
Under 12
3:30pm
Harp Slow Air
Under 12

Assembly Buildings, Main RoomVenue info →

10:00am
Trios
12–15
1:00pm
Duets
12–15
5:00pm
Trios
Over 18

Assembly Buildings, Minor HallVenue info →

10:00am
Melodeon
Under 12
12:00pm
Melodeon
15–18
4:00pm
Rogha Ghléas
12–15

The MAC, Main TheatreVenue info →

10:00am
Concertina
Under 12
1:30pm
Button Accordion
Under 12
3:30pm
Button Accordion
15–18
5:00pm
Concertina
12–15

The MAC, Dance StudioVenue info →

10:00am
Amhrán Fir
Over 18
12:00pm
Amhrán Mná
Over 18
2:00pm
Amhrán Nua Cheaptha
5:00pm
Amhrán Mná
15–18

The MAC, FactoryVenue info →

10:00am
Comhrá
Faoi 9
3:00pm
Comhrá
11–13

The MAC, WorksVenue info →

10:00am
Comhrá
9–11
3:00pm
Comhrá
13–15

Ulster University, Lecture Theatre 1Venue info →

10:00am
Accompaniment
Under 12
12:00pm
Piano
Under 12
2:30pm
Piano
15–18
5:00pm
Accompaniment
15–18

Ulster University, Lecture Theatre 2Venue info →

10:00am
Mandolin
15–18
12:30pm
Banjo
15–18
5:00pm
Mandolin
Over 18

Ulster University, Level 2, 308Venue info →

10:00am
Fiddle
Under 12
12:00pm
Fiddle Slow Air
Under 12
4:30pm
Fiddle Slow Air
15–18

Ulster University, Level 1, 206Venue info →

10:00am
Whistle
Under 12
12:00pm
Whistle Slow Air
Under 12
1:30pm
Whistle Slow Air
15–18
4:00pm
Whistle
15–18

Ulster University, Level 0, 307Venue info →

10:00am
Flute
15–18
1:00pm
Flute Slow Air
15–18
3:30pm
Flute
Under 12
5:00pm
Flute Slow Air
Under 12

Ulster University, BN 03 006Venue info →

10:00am
Uilleann Pipes
Over 18
12:00pm
Uilleann Pipes
12–15
3:00pm
Uilleann Pipes
Under 12
5:00pm
Uilleann Pipes Slow Air
Under 12

Ulster University, BN 03 008Venue info →

10:00am
Piano Accordion
Over 18
11:30am
Piano Accordion
15–18
2:00pm
Mouth Organ
Under 12
3:30pm
Mouth Organ
15–18

Ulster University, BC 03 102Venue info →

10:00am
Whistling
Over 18
12:00pm
Lilting
Over 18
2:30pm
Lilting
15–18
4:00pm
Whistling
15–18

Ulster University, BC 03 123 A&BVenue info →

12:00pm
Fiddle
15–18

Ulster University, Conor Lecture TheatreVenue info →

10:00am
Ballads — Ladies
Over 18
1:00pm
Ballads — Men
Over 18
5:00pm
Ballads — Men
15–18

Waterfront ICC Hall 1A&BVenue info →

9:00am
Ladies Full Set
15–18
10:00am
Mixed Full Set
15–18
10:45am
Mixed Half Set
Under 18
12:00pm
Mixed Half Set
Over 18
1:45pm
Ladies Full Set
Over 35
3:00pm
Mixed Full Set
Over 35
5:15pm
Ladies Full Set
Over 18
6:30pm
Mixed Full Set
Over 18

Waterfront ICC Hall 2Venue info →

10:00am
Ladies 8 Hand Céilí
Over 18
10:45am
Ladies 4 Hand Céilí
Over 18
11:30am
Mixed 8 Hand Céilí
Over 18
12:00pm
Mixed 4 Hand Céilí
Over 18
1:30pm
Ladies 8 Hand Céilí
15–18
2:00pm
Ladies 4 Hand Céilí
15–18
3:15pm
Mixed 8 Hand Céilí
15–18
3:45pm
Mixed 4 Hand Céilí
15–18

Sunday 9 August

Waterfront Main TheatreVenue info →

10:00am
Céilí Bands
Under 12
5:30pm
Céilí Bands
Over 18

Waterfront Studio TheatreVenue info →

10:00am
Concertina
Over 18
1:00pm
Melodeon
Over 18

Waterfront ICC Conference Room 3A&BVenue info →

10:00am
Drums
Over 18
1:00pm
Bodhrán
Over 18

Waterfront ICC Conference Room 1A&BVenue info →

10:30am
Harp Slow Air
Over 18
1:30pm
Harp Slow Air
15–18

Waterfront ICC Hall 1A&BVenue info →

10:00am
Button Accordion
Over 18
1:00pm
Grúpaí Ceoil
Under 12

Waterfront ICC Hall 2Venue info →

10:00am
Trios
15–18
1:00pm
Duets
15–18

The MAC, Main TheatreVenue info →

10:00am
Button Accordion
12–15
12:30pm
Melodeon
12–15

The MAC, Dance StudioVenue info →

10:00am
Amhrán Fir
12–15
12:00pm
Amhrán Mná
12–15
2:00pm
Amhrán Fir
15–18

The MAC, FactoryVenue info →

10:00am
Comhrá
15–18
2:30pm
Scéalaíocht
Under 12

The MAC, WorksVenue info →

10:00am
Storytelling
12–15
12:00pm
Scéalaíocht
12–15
2:00pm
Storytelling
Under 12

Ulster University, Lecture Theatre 1Venue info →

10:00am
Piano
Over 18
1:30pm
Newly Composed Tunes

Ulster University, Lecture Theatre 2Venue info →

10:30am
Mandolin
Under 12
1:00pm
Banjo
Under 12

Ulster University, Level 2, 308Venue info →

10:00am
Fiddle
Over 18
2:00pm
Fiddle Slow Air
Over 18

Ulster University, Level 1, 206Venue info →

10:30am
Whistle
Over 18
1:30pm
Whistle Slow Air
Over 18

Ulster University, Level 0, 307Venue info →

10:00am
Flute Slow Air
Over 18
1:00pm
Flute
Over 18

Ulster University, BN 03 006Venue info →

10:00am
Uilleann Pipes
Over 18
1:00pm
Uilleann Pipes Slow Air
Over 18

Ulster University, BN 03 008Venue info →

10:30am
Mouth Organ
Over 18
1:30pm
Piano Accordion
Over 18

Ulster University, BC 03 102Venue info →

10:00am
Lilting
12–15
12:00pm
Whistling
12–15

Ulster University, Conor Lecture TheatreVenue info →

10:00am
Ballads — Ladies
12–15
12:00pm
Ballads — Ladies
15–18
2:00pm
Ballads — Men
12–15

Titanic SlipwaysVenue info →

12:00pm
Pipe Bands
Any age
2:00pm
Marching Bands
Under 18 & Over 18

The pinnacle of traditional arts

The competitions take place over the final three days of the Fleadh, from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 August 2026.

Age groups

Under 12
12–15
15–18
Over 18 (Senior)