← All events
music · Thursday 30 July 2026 · Various 
Belturbet Festival of the Erne - Music and Entertainment
At Belturbet Town and surrounds · Belturbet, Co. Cavan
At Belturbet Town and surrounds · Belturbet, Co. Cavan
The Festival of the Erne is the longest-running festival in the northwest of Ireland and it fills Belturbet for five days at the end of July each year. This is a proper community festival - streets blocked by parade floats, marching bands stepping through the town, and live music spilling out of venues well into the night. It suits families, it suits people who just want a good atmosphere, and it suits anyone who has never been to Belturbet and wants a reason to go for the first time.
The programme runs from Thursday 30 July through to the August Bank Holiday Monday on 3 August. Each day brings something different. Daytime events tend to be family-oriented - fancy dress competitions, water-based activities on the River Erne, and outdoor entertainment spread across the town. The float parade is one of the centrepieces of the week, with local groups and organisations competing on decorated vehicles that wind through the streets. Marching bands add to the spectacle. The “Lady of the Erne” competition is a long-standing part of the festival tradition. Evening events shift toward live music, with local and visiting bands performing across multiple venues. The week typically closes with a fireworks display over the river - the Mountain Road Band has been known to lead the crowd down to Morrissey Park for the finale. The full 2026 programme is released closer to the date at festivalofthererne.com, so it is worth checking there for confirmed set times and ticketed events.
Belturbet sits on the N87 in northwest Cavan, roughly 35 kilometres from Cavan town and about 20 kilometres from Enniskillen across the border in Fermanagh. By car from Dublin it is around two hours via the N3 through Cavan town. Bus Eireann serves Belturbet on routes through Cavan, though frequency is limited - driving or getting a lift is the practical option for most. During festival week parking can get tight in the town centre, so arriving early for parade days is advisable. The town is small and everything is walkable once you are in.
Belturbet stands on an island in the River Erne, which gives it a distinctive look and makes it a natural stop on the Upper Erne waterway. The river itself is good for fishing and the surrounding drumlin countryside is quiet cycling and walking territory outside festival week. There is more to see in Belturbet and across Co. Cavan.
Heading to Belturbet Town and surrounds in Belturbet? Cavan has plenty more to see. Read the Belturbet area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.