Ring of Kerry Festivals and Events
Festivals, fairs and events on the Ring of Kerry, with dates: Puck Fair in Killorglin, the Cahersiveen music festival, the charity cycle and more, plus what each one means for driving the loop.
Just finished
Rose of Tralee International Festival
Tralee, about 25 km north of Killorglin.
Kerry's biggest festival, and one of the most watched nights on Irish television. It is in Tralee, off the loop, but it fills beds across the county and it is on every screen in Kerry for two nights.
Kenmare Arts Festival
Kenmare
A fortnight of exhibitions, literary events and workshops across Kenmare, with a ticketed events programme in the second week. Most of it is walkable in an afternoon.
Muckross Vintage Rally
Muckross House & Gardens
The Killarney Valley Classic and Vintage Club fills Muckross Traditional Farms with classic cars, vintage tractors and working threshing displays for a Sunday in August.
Kenmare Fair Day
Kenmare
One of the last genuinely old-style fairs in the south west, held every 15 August since the 1760s. Traders come from across Munster and the town centre closes to traffic for the day.
Puck Fair
Killorglin
Ireland's oldest fair. A wild mountain goat is crowned King Puck over three days of horse trading, street music and a midnight fireworks finish.
Upcoming events
A Colourful Life Festival
Kenmare
A summer-long series of talks at the Park Hotel Kenmare on food, art, design and broadcasting.
Natural Kerry Art Exhibition
Killarney National Park
New work by the Tralee Art Group at Killarney House and Gardens, free to view and easy to fold into a walk in the grounds.
Heritage Week at Muckross
Muckross House & Gardens
A different master craftsman at Muckross Traditional Farms every afternoon of Heritage Week, from basket making to blacksmithing, and all of it free.
Killarney Races
Killarney
Three days of racing at what is routinely called Ireland's most scenic racecourse, a twenty minute walk from the middle of Killarney. The Kingdom Gold Cup is the feature.
Charlie Chaplin Comedy Film Festival
Waterville
Waterville's comedy film festival, honouring Chaplin, who holidayed here for years. Its status for 2026 is unclear, so check before building a trip around it.
Waterville Transatlantic Cable Station Walk
Waterville
A free Heritage Week walk around Waterville's Transatlantic Cable Station, with local guides and first-hand accounts.
The Hardman Killarney
Killarney
A long-course triathlon that swims in the Lakes of Killarney and cycles a long stretch of the Ring. Worth knowing about if you are driving that day.
The Lost Sheep Triathlon
Kenmare
A middle-distance triathlon based in Kenmare. Pier Road closes for the morning and the bike leg uses the southern side of the loop.
K-Visual
Killorglin
Forty emerging Irish artists take over Killorglin for a weekend, showing in shops, pubs and borrowed rooms rather than galleries. The successor to K-Fest, which ran from 2013 to 2024.
Kerry International Film Festival
Killarney
Kerry's film festival returns to Killarney for its 27th edition, 15 to 18 October: Irish and international features, documentaries, shorts and industry talks.
Kenmare Halloween Howl
Kenmare
A week-long Halloween festival in Kenmare, with a parade, haunted forest walks and Samhain storytelling.
Wander Wild Festival
Killarney National Park
An outdoor and wellness festival based in Killarney National Park: guided walks, trail runs, kayaking and talks.
Ireland BikeFest Killarney
Killarney
Thousands of motorcycles descend on Killarney for the June bank holiday weekend. 2026 is the 20th year.
Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle
Killarney
About 6,000 cyclists ride the full 170 km loop in a day, starting and finishing in Killarney. Worth knowing about even if you are driving.
Sneem Summer Festival
Sneem
Five days of music, markets and family events in one of the prettiest villages on the loop.
Cahersiveen Music and Arts Festival
Cahersiveen
Three nights of headline acts plus trad sessions in every pub in town, over the August bank holiday weekend.
Portmagee Regatta
Portmagee
A day of coastal rowing and music in one of the smallest harbours on the Skellig Ring. 2026 marks the regatta's centenary.