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festivals · Friday 25 September 2026 · Various 
Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival 2026
At Galway Docklands, Various venues · Galway City, Co. Galway
At Galway Docklands, Various venues · Galway City, Co. Galway
The Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival is the world’s longest-running seafood festival, started in 1954 and running every year since without a gap. Over seven decades it has consumed more than three million oysters and drawn visitors from across Europe and beyond. The 2026 edition will be its 72nd year - a proper civic tradition rather than a manufactured food event. If you enjoy seafood, live cooking, competitive spectacle, or simply a city in high spirits, this is one of those September weekends worth timing a trip around.
The three days each have their own character. Friday kicks off with the Oyster Trail, a city-wide circuit of restaurants and bars running live shucking demonstrations, seafood pairings, and special menus. The Irish Oyster Opening Championship takes place at An Púcán on Friday, serving as a warm-up for the main event.
Saturday is the centrepiece. A Parade of Flags moves through the city from Eyre Square to Cross Street, where the World Oyster Opening Championship draws competitors from roughly 15 nations - past years have included shuckers from Canada, Australia, Japan, and across Europe. Each competitor opens 30 oysters against the clock; Ireland’s Willie Morans still holds the world record at 1 minute 31 seconds. Alongside the championship, there is a Gala Brunch, the Hot Oyster Awards cooking challenge, and a Mardi Gras-style parade through the streets in the evening.
Sunday turns quieter and more family-focused, with guided shore walks, sustainability talks, and live food demonstrations centred on native oyster aquaculture and the marine environment.
Throughout the weekend, a festival marquee in the Docklands area anchors the food village, where smaller producers and chefs set up alongside the main programme.
Galway city sits on the western rail line from Dublin Heuston - the journey takes just over two hours and trains run regularly. Expressway and GoBus coaches link Galway to Dublin, Limerick, and Cork. By car from Dublin, the M6 motorway runs direct (just under two hours in clear traffic). Parking in the city centre is limited during festival weekend; the nearby Docklands area has paid surface parking, and Park and Ride options operate from the outskirts.
September is one of the better months for Galway - the summer crowds have thinned slightly, but the city is still animated. The Spanish Arch, the Long Walk, and the Claddagh are all within easy walking distance of the festival hub. There is more to see in Galway and across Co. Galway.
Heading to Galway Docklands, Various venues in Galway? Galway has plenty more to see. Read the Galway area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.