If you’re craving Irish folk and contemporary music during the quieter winter months, the first week of February is the perfect excuse to head to Derry~Londonderry for the IMBOLC International Music Festival.
Organised by Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin, IMBOLC has gone from strength to strength and is regarded as one of Ireland’s leading folk, trad and roots music festivals. Each year, it attracts more than 3,000 attendees to a rich, week-long programme featuring 30+ individual events.
Expect a vibrant mix of traditional and contemporary Irish music, international collaborations, instrument workshops, and dance — with a few unexpected twists along the way, including a late-night Irish hip-hop gig. There are also opportunities to learn or practise your Irish language skills, adding another layer to this immersive cultural experience.
The festival takes its name from Imbolc, the ancient Gaelic celebration marking the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox — a time associated with light, renewal, and the promise of spring. True to its name, the IMBOLC Festival brings warmth and energy to the darker days with a packed programme that celebrates creativity, community, and the turning of the seasons.
Below you’ll find a summary of the 2026 programme, with full details available via the official IMBOLC website.
The Packed Programme
Sunday 1st February
13:30 – An Crann Sí le Gráinne Holland – a musical fairy tale in Irish for families.
19:00 – Daughters Of Ceithleann – a new Irish folk musical created by Moya Sweeney
Monday, 2 – Friday, 6 February
Daily lunchtime traditional music sessions led by top-tier musicians in the Cultúrlann café. Bring your instruments and join in.
Monday, 2nd February
19:30 Clare Sands – Fearless fiddle player and singer / Lonseome George – a unique sound, mixing traditional and contemporary music styles, both performing bilingually
Tuesday, 3rd February
10:00 The Colmcille Camino – Irish dance workshop and session
19:30 IMBOLC Unsigned – Cora Harkin, Kevin Laughlin, Lord Jane, Mick Hagan and Miss Mary Jane
Wednesday, 4th February
19:30 Hellas Ensemble – Seamus Heaney’s ‘Sonnets from Hellas’ translated to Irish, read alongside an ensemble of Greek and Irish musicians
Thursday, 5th February
12:00 Ceol le Chéile – Saoirse Barbour, Ashling Murphy Award winner, presenting her community music project
19:30 The Henry Girls and Gazelleband – special double header – a unique collaborative concert featuring the renowned Inishowen folk trio and Gazelleband, the boundary-breaking Palestian ensemble
Friday, 6th February
19:30 Séamus and Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta // SÍOMHA – a double billing
22:30 Club Féile – CAOIMHÍN and band // Amano – a double billing
Saturday, 7th February
10:00-13:00 Instrument Workshops – from banjo to bodhran
11:00-14:00 Big IMBOLC Trad Brunch
13:00 Battle of the Bands – the best of upcoming talent (and an expert judging panel)
17:00 A Session for Eibhlín
19:30 Brian Finnegan and The Hunger Of The Skin Band // Tara Breen and Marty Barry – a double billing
22:30 Sí-bín Céilí – lively Irish music, dancing and cúpla focal
Friday & Saturday / 6th-7th February
Session Trail – with a full schedule of traditional music sessions taking place in pubs, cafes, and hotels throughout the area.
See full programme and details of all the acts and sessions at the IMBOLC website.
Getting to IMBOLC
Well, of course it depends where you are coming from but:
- From Belfast Grand Central Station – the train takes around 2 hours, 20 minutes while the X212 bus makes the journey in just two 2 hours. Bus tickets are Adult Single (cash) £14.50, Adult Day Return (cash) £23.00, with train tickets costing Adult Single (cash) £15.50 and Adult Day Return £24.00.
- From Dublin – The X4 bus takes 4 hours with discounted Web Saver e-tickets costing Adult Single (from) £11.00 and Adult Return (from) £19.50
- By Air – Derry City Airport offers direct connections to UK cities such as Birmingham, Edinburgh, Manchester, Glasgow, Liverpool and London Heathrow.
Explore accommodation options
Check Booking.com for hotels, bed and breakfasts and self-catering accommodation. Remember that if you cannot get accommodation in the city itself, consider accommodation in local towns such as Coleraine and use public transport to get to the festival.
Zoom in to see accommodation options and prices, click the ‘See Accommodations’ button or type the name of a town or area into the search field.
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