Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival 2026

What to Expect

The Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival is one of Ireland’s oldest and most distinctive cultural celebrations, running across the entire month of September in the spa town of Lisdoonvarna in the Burren, Co. Clare. Attracting up to 60,000 visitors, it is Europe’s largest matchmaking festival. The 2026 edition runs provisionally from Tuesday 1 September to Wednesday 30 September. Events include nightly ceili dances, country music concerts, speed-dating sessions and the centuries-old tradition of consulting Ireland’s legendary matchmaker Willie Daly. Music and dancing take place across the town’s hotels and pubs, with daytime events often free and evening dances ticketed at individual venues.

Good to Know

• Dates: September 2026 (provisionally 1 September to 30 September)
• Venue: Throughout Lisdoonvarna town, Co. Clare
• Daytime pub sessions and outdoor events are largely free
• Evening dances and gala concerts ticketed through individual venues
• Matchmaking consultations with Willie Daly available during the festival
• Accommodation books out very early; plan ahead

Getting There

Lisdoonvarna is on the N67 road, approximately 35 km northwest of Ennis and 5 km from the Cliffs of Moher. Bus Eireann route 350 (Galway - Doolin - Lisdoonvarna) provides a seasonal service. By car from Ennis, take the N85 and N67 via Ennistymon.