The Johnny Doherty Festival returns to Ardara, County Donegal, from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 September 2026 for a weekend celebrating traditional Irish music and the legacy of legendary Donegal fiddler Johnny Doherty.

Throughout the weekend, Ardara will come alive with traditional music sessions, concerts and musicians gathering across the town, creating the lively atmosphere for which this popular Donegal festival is known.

Johnny Doherty was one of Donegal’s most celebrated traditional fiddle players, and the annual festival keeps his musical legacy alive while bringing musicians, locals and visitors together for a weekend of authentic Irish traditional music.

What to expect:

• Three-day traditional Irish music festival in Ardara

• Live traditional music sessions throughout the weekend

• Musicians performing at venues around the town

• Concerts featuring established Irish traditional artists

• Celebration of legendary Donegal fiddler Johnny Doherty

• Saturday night headline concert with Four Men and a Dog

• Traditional Donegal music and culture

• Lively atmosphere throughout Ardara

• A great weekend for traditional music fans and visitors

• Opportunity to experience one of Donegal’s best-known festival towns

The headline concert takes place on Saturday 26 September at the Nesbitt Arms Boutique Hotel, with acclaimed traditional group Four Men and a Dog performing as part of the 2026 festival.

Ardara is known as the “Home of the Festivals”, and during the Johnny Doherty Festival pubs, venues and streets around the town become gathering places for musicians and traditional music enthusiasts.

This is a great weekend for anyone interested in Irish traditional music, Donegal culture, fiddle music and experiencing the atmosphere of a traditional music festival in one of County Donegal’s best-known heritage towns.

General festival activity and music sessions take place around Ardara, while some individual concerts or organised events may require separate admission or advance booking. The Saturday headline concert has its own booking arrangements.

Visitors staying for the weekend are advised to arrange accommodation early, as Ardara can become busy during festival weekends.

Official organiser / source: Johnny Doherty Festival / Ardara.ie / Go Visit Donegal.

Listing note: This public event listing was added by GetEvents Local Event Guide to help people discover what’s happening locally. GetEvents.ie is not the organiser of this festival and does not manage individual concerts, admission, bookings, venue access, programme changes, updates or cancellations.

Description supplied by the event organiser.