Féile Vegan Ireland

Féile Vegan Ireland bills itself as "Ireland's only vegan music festival with talks, food, live acts and workshops" — and the 2026 edition runs 14-16 August 2026 in the spectacular grounds of Lisnavagh House and Gardens, a private country estate in Rathvilly, County Carlow. Gates open at 1:30pm each day with programming from 2pm to 6pm, plus evening music and camping for those staying on site. It's a small, intentionally intimate festival with a big-hearted, inclusive community ethos.

Lisnavagh is the kind of Irish-country-house venue you dream about: historic gardens, walled grounds, rolling parkland and quiet lanes about 90 minutes south of Dublin and easily reached from Kilkenny or Carlow town. The scale of the estate means the festival never feels crowded, and the natural amphitheatre setting gives live music a genuinely magical quality. Past editions have featured Sharon Shannon and Cathy Davey headlining — strong indicators of the calibre of Irish folk and indie talent the festival attracts.

Programming covers the full vegan-festival spectrum: live music, spoken word, plant-based food vendors, an artisan goods marketplace, educational workshops, cooking demonstrations and wellness activities. Talks typically cover ethical living, sustainability, Irish plant-based agriculture and animal sanctuary work — and speakers are genuinely accessible, with no velvet-rope separation between stage and audience.

Children are warmly welcomed — under-12s enter free — and a dedicated kids' activity programme runs alongside the main festival. Companion animals are also welcome (on leads, well-behaved), reflecting the festival's deep connection to Ireland's rescue and sanctuary community. Parking is free, which is rare for any festival these days, and the rural Carlow setting means escape-from-the-city vibes are genuine, not manufactured.