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food-drink · Friday 25 September 2026 · See website for times 
Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival
At Galway City · Galway City, Co. Galway
At Galway City · Galway City, Co. Galway
September in Galway has its own particular rhythm, and the Oyster Festival is at the centre of it. Running since 1954, this is the world’s longest-running oyster festival - 72 editions in 2026, and still the event the Sunday Times once called “one of the 12 greatest shows on earth.” It draws tens of thousands of visitors over three days, and it suits everyone from serious food lovers to people who simply want to be in a city that is at its most animated. The native Galway oyster, harvested from September onwards, is the star - served fresh at the Festival Marquee, paired with Guinness or champagne, and celebrated with a level of ceremony that is entirely warranted.
The centrepiece is the World Oyster Opening Championship at Nimmo’s Pier, where competitors from more than 20 countries race to open 30 oysters cleanly, with judges scrutinising every shell for presentation. It is faster and more gripping to watch than it sounds - the world record stands at just over 90 seconds for 30 oysters. Alongside the World Championship runs the Irish Oyster Opening Championship, with local shuckers competing separately.
Away from the competition stage, the weekend spreads across Galway City. The Festival Marquee holds a food village with oyster hot spots, wine pairings and beer masterclasses. Galway’s restaurants take part in seafood trails and tasting menus built around the festival. There are cooking demonstrations, food provenance tours, a Mardi Gras-style Gala parade through the streets, and family activities on the Sunday, including guided shore walks and talks on aquaculture and sustainability. Live music runs throughout. The 2026 programme introduces a dedicated Sunday family strand focused on the native oyster and the coastal environment.
Galway is served by direct trains from Dublin Heuston (about two hours ten minutes) and regular Bus Eireann services from Dublin and Cork. The festival runs across the city centre and out to Nimmo’s Pier in the Claddagh area, all walkable once you are in town. Driving is straightforward from the N6 (Dublin direction) or N17 (north); city-centre parking fills quickly on festival weekend, so arriving early or using park-and-ride options on the outskirts is the practical move.
The last weekend of September is one of the best times to be in Galway - quieter than the summer high season, the light is good and the city is in fine form. There is more to see in Galway and across Co. Galway.
Heading to Galway City 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.