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festivals · Saturday 25 July 2026 · Various 
Carlow Garden Festival 2026
At Multiple gardens across County Carlow · Various locations, Co. Carlow
At Multiple gardens across County Carlow · Various locations, Co. Carlow
The Carlow Garden Festival is one of Ireland’s longest-running horticultural events - now in its twenty-third year - and it draws serious gardeners and curious visitors in equal measure. Over nine days from 25 July to 2 August 2026, the programme spreads across some of County Carlow’s finest gardens, from the ancient woodland at Altamont to the walled grounds of Duckett’s Grove and the Tudor revival towers of Huntington Castle. If you care about plants, landscape design, or simply spending time in well-tended outdoor spaces, this is a genuinely rewarding week to be in the county.
The festival is built around talks, guided garden tours and hands-on workshops, with speakers drawn from Ireland and further afield. The opening weekend kicks off with Joe Swift and James Alexander-Sinclair of The James and Joe Garden Show at Arboretum on Saturday 25 July. Later that weekend, award-winning designer Chris Beardshaw gives a talk titled “Painting with Plants” at Duckett’s Grove, exploring the art of the herbaceous border.
During the mid-festival days, Jimi Blake discusses plant combinations at Delta Sensory Gardens, Helen Begadon leads a session on healing herbs, and Tom Coward speaks about the restored Victorian gardens at Gravetye Manor - inspiration for the naturalistic planting style that has influenced Irish gardens for generations. Altamont Gardens runs free tree tours on Thursdays and Sundays throughout the festival, led by local guides who know the collection well.
Ticket prices start from €15 for individual events. Weekend passes offer better value: the opening weekend pass (four talks) is €70, saving €10; the closing weekend pass (five talks and workshops) is also €70, saving €14.
Carlow town is about 85km from Dublin, roughly an hour by road on the M9. Direct trains from Heuston Station take around an hour and a quarter - a straightforward option if you are coming from the capital. From Cork or Waterford, the N25 and N10 bring you in from the south. Festival events are spread across several locations in the county, so it is worth checking the programme for directions to each individual garden before you travel. Some venues are in the countryside and will need a car to reach; others are closer to Carlow town itself.
County Carlow is compact and easy to explore across a day or two. Duckett’s Grove - one of the festival venues - is also a fine ruin worth seeing independently, and the River Barrow towpath offers a flat, scenic walk from the town centre. There is more to see in Carlow and across Co. Carlow.
Heading to Multiple gardens across County Carlow in Carlow? Carlow has plenty more to see. Read the Carlow area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.