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festivals · Monday 17 August 2026 · Various 
Killiney Hill Festival 2026
At Killiney Hill Park · Killiney, Dublin 18
At Killiney Hill Park · Killiney, Dublin 18
Every August, Killiney Hill Park comes alive for three days with one of South Dublin’s most enjoyable free outdoor festivals. The Killiney Hill Festival runs 17 to 19 August 2026, drawing families, walkers, and anyone who wants to spend a summer weekend outside without spending a fortune. The setting does a lot of the work - the hill rises above Killiney Bay with views stretching from Dublin city to Bray Head and on a clear day across to the Welsh coast. The festival layers walking tours, food vendors, and family activities onto those surroundings, giving the visit a bit of structure for those who want it and plenty of open space for those who don’t.
The festival makes full use of the park’s terrain - meadow paths, old woodland, and the climb to the summit obelisk (locally nicknamed the Witch’s Hat) are all natural staging grounds for the guided walking tours. These typically mix the practical (the paths, the geology) with the local history - the park was originally laid out in 1887 and dedicated to public use by Prince Albert Victor of Wales to mark Queen Victoria’s jubilee, so there is genuine backstory to draw on. The hill also sits within striking distance of Dalkey Quarry, which creates a dramatic cliff face on the western side and features in several of the walking routes.
Family activities run across all three days. Food and drink stalls set up around the park base, giving everyone a reason to linger rather than just pass through. Outdoor entertainment - music, spoken word, and community performances - tends to fill the afternoon slots. The festival falls squarely within National Heritage Week (15 to 23 August 2026), so expect a heritage angle running through the programme alongside the more straightforward festival fare.
Killiney is about 16 km south of Dublin city centre. The DART is the easiest option - Killiney station sits on the Dublin to Greystones line, roughly 40 to 45 minutes from Pearse Station. From the station it is about a 20-minute walk up to the park entrance on Killiney Hill Road. The 59 bus from the city also serves the area. If you are driving, there is a free car park at the park itself, though it fills quickly on busy summer weekends so arriving before midday is sensible.
The village itself is worth a slow look - the seafront at Killiney Beach is a short walk from the hill, and the coastal stretch south toward Bray is among the most scenic in County Dublin. There is more to see in Killiney and across Co. Dublin.
Heading to Killiney Hill Park in Killiney? Dublin has plenty more to see. Read the Killiney area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.
In town for Killiney Hill Park? These Dublin tours book out in summer.