Save the date for St Patrick’s Day (17 March) – one of the biggest parties in the world. In Dublin, St Patrick’s Festival hosts the largest parade, with floats and performers from around the world.

Meanwhile, Armagh lights up with the Home of St Patrick Festival, featuring concerts, comedy and walking tours of the city. But every town and village celebrates St Patrick’s Day in its own way.

You can also explore destinations around Ireland linked to St Patrick, from the Rock of Cashel, where he baptised the King of Munster in the 5th century, to the scree-covered Croagh Patrick, where he fasted for 40 days and 40 nights.

Ireland’s film stars are having a moment, with actors such as Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Cillian Murphy, Saoirse Ronan and Barry Keoghan winning top awards and starring in some of the world’s most talked-about films. But Ireland itself is a star of the screen, too, and 2026 is the year to discover it.

From the fantastic landscapes of Northern Ireland that gave Game of Thrones® its epic sweep and the wild beauty of Achill Island and Inis Mór, captured in The Banshees of Inisherin, to the rugged, otherworldly landscapes featured in the Star Wars saga, Ireland’s dramatic coastlines, mist-covered mountains and historic streets have become stars in their own right.

We’re a musical people and you’ll find an array of concerts, gigs and festivals in amazing locations throughout the year. August sees Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, Ireland’s largest traditional music festival, take place in Belfast.

Later that month, one of the country’s top music events, Electric Picnic, will wow crowds with homegrown superstars Fontaines DC and CMAT.

Cool cats arrive in Cork for the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival in October, while the same month sees Wexford Festival Opera bring stellar performances to Ireland’s southeast corner.

Prefer intimate surroundings? Pop into a trad music pub anywhere on the island, where a local session is likely in full flow by a cosy fireside.

As Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jnr celebrate their 50th anniversary with a world tour in 2026, why not visit their hometown and get to know the boys a little better?

Housed in a beautiful period building beside St Stephen’s Green, the Little Museum of Dublin is the perfect place to start. This quaint spot is home to U2: Made in Dublin, an exhibition charting the rise of Ireland’s most successful rock group.

After that, take a U2 Dublin Walking Tour to check out the local haunts synonymous with the band, from Windmill Lane Recording Studios to Temple Bar.

As well as boasting a wide array of Michelin-starred restaurants – including two new one-star restaurants – including Forest Avenue, Ox and The Pullman – Ireland is being tipped as one of the top food destinations in Europe in 2026. Why? Farm-to-table excellence, super-fresh ingredients and creative chefs who are taking the island’s produce to the next level.

Add to the mix seaweed foraging, cookery schools such as Ballymaloe and great city food tours such as the Enniskillen Taste Experience, and the recipe for a dream foodie escape is set.

Ireland’s beautiful landscapes are begging to be explored. Walk or cycle on scenic greenways or take to the water on Ireland’s glistening blueways – a network of lakes, peaceful canals and scenic rivers.

As well as seven National Parks in the Republic of Ireland and eight in Northern Ireland where they are known as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Ireland also boasts five geoparks across the whole island, including a new designation awarded in 2025 to Joyce Country and Western Lakes in Galway and Mayo.

Outdoor activities abound on this all-action island, too! Try zip-lining in Lough Key Forest, surfing in Portrush, golfing on world-renowned courses or horse riding along white sandy beaches. It’s all there for the taking.

“Quietcations” are one of the biggest travel trends for 2026, and there’s no better place than Ireland to unplug and enjoy a digital detox. From remote Atlantic islands where you can wake up to the sounds of crashing waves, to unspoiled wildernesses teeming with wildlife, there are plenty of ways to go off-grid.

Immerse yourself in nature and history on the uninhabited Blasket Islands, off the west coast of Dingle in County Kerry. Go hiking in the Wild Nephin National Park, one of the most remote places in Ireland, or take in the views at Fair Head, on the windswept edge of County Antrim.

Did you know that Ireland is the home of Halloween! It all began here over 2,000 years ago with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of harvest season and the beginning of winter.

Visit during this season, and you’ll experience something special, whether you’re celebrating at Derry Halloween (Europe’s biggest Halloween festival, which marks its 40th anniversary in 2026), revelling in the spirit of the Púca Festival or enjoying the Bram Stoker Festival, dedicated to the Dublin-born author of Dracula. You’ll also find Halloween parades, seasonal supper clubs and more all over the island. Come along, if you dare...

Lonely Planet has named Tipperarya Best in Travel Top Destination for 2026. Ireland’s largest inland county has so much to offer, and all just two hours from Dublin. There are showstopping landmarks like the Rock of Cashel and Cahir Castle, great artisan produce such as Cashel Blue Cheese, picture perfect trad music pubs and walking trails through the beautiful Golden Vale.

Framed by the rolling Galtee Mountains on one side and the mighty River Shannon on the other, Tipperary is the place to be in 2026.

As an island on the edge of Europe, with the vast Atlantic Ocean stretching beyond, Ireland has some of the darkest night skies around. Gazing up at the dazzling Milky Way is an awe-inspiring experience.

Try Mayo Dark Sky Park for boardwalk trails under brilliantly starry skies. Or Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve to see constellations, planets and other celestial bodies. In Northern Ireland, the OM Dark Sky Park and Observatory blends astrology and archaeology, as stars twinkle above the ancient Beaghmore Stone Circles. For a dose of peace mixed with wonder, dark sky retreats are hard to beat.