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festivals · Sunday 2 August 2026 · Various 
Galway Pride Festival 2026
At Various venues · Galway City, Co. Galway
At Various venues · Galway City, Co. Galway
Galway Pride Festival - known locally as Bród na Gaillimhe, meaning “Pride of Galway” - is one of the longest-running LGBTQ+ pride festivals in Ireland, with more than 35 years of continuous celebration behind it. The week-long event (2-8 August 2026) draws visitors from across Connacht and beyond, filling Galway City’s pubs, theatres, community halls, and streets with colour, music, and genuine community spirit. It suits anyone who wants more than a single parade: the schedule stretches across a full week and covers everything from quiet panel discussions to high-energy late nights.
The programme is deliberately varied, built around the understanding that pride looks different to different people. Evenings of information and awareness sit alongside arts and performance nights, live music sessions, and mental health events. There are family-friendly moments in the daytime and sober spaces throughout the week for those who want to take part without the club atmosphere. High-energy club nights at city venues round things out for those who do.
The week builds towards the Galway Pride Parade on Saturday 8 August, which sets off from City Hall at noon and makes its way through the city centre to Fr. Burke Park. The parade typically runs from 12pm to 2pm, followed by a family picnic and outdoor party at the park. The parade route passes through the core of Galway City, which means good viewing spots along the way for anyone who prefers to watch rather than march. Road closures and bus diversions are in place during the parade - check Transport for Ireland or Bus Éireann for diversions on the day.
Full programme details, including individual event venues and any ticketed nights, are published closer to the festival at galwaypride.ie.
Galway City is about two hours from Dublin by road via the M4/M6, and roughly 40 minutes from Athlone on the same motorway. Bus Éireann and GoBus run frequent expressway coaches from Dublin Busáras directly to Galway city centre, with journey times of around 2.5 hours. Irish Rail serves Galway from Dublin Heuston (roughly 2.5 hours) and from Limerick via Athenry. Parking in Galway City is limited during busy festival periods - the Eyre Square area car parks fill quickly on parade day, so arriving by public transport or staying in the city overnight is the sensible call.
Galway in August is at its liveliest - the Galway Races are typically in the preceding week, and the city’s café-lined streets, the Latin Quarter, and the promenade at Salthill are worth your time beyond the festival schedule. There is more to see in Galway and across Co. Galway.
Heading to 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.