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heritage · Saturday 15 August 2026 · Varies 
National Heritage Week 2026 in Kilkenny
At Multiple venues across Kilkenny · County Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny
At Multiple venues across Kilkenny · County Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny
National Heritage Week in Kilkenny is nine days of free events pulling back the curtain on the county’s medieval built fabric, its rivers, and the traditions that have survived here for centuries. The 2026 theme is “Heritage at Risk” - an invitation to look at what could be lost and what local communities are doing to protect it. It suits anyone with a genuine curiosity about place: families, history buffs, walkers, and people who want to understand a bit more of the town they find themselves in.
The programme runs across venues throughout the city and county from 15 to 23 August. Heritage Open Doors on 15 and 16 August is the headline draw: buildings normally locked to the public open free of charge - guild halls, historic houses, institutional interiors - giving access that money alone cannot usually buy. Kilkenny’s stock of medieval and early modern architecture makes it one of the most rewarding counties in Ireland for this.
The week also includes guided tours of castles, abbeys and the old city walls, traditional music sessions, herbal medicine workshops, and Guardians of the River walks along the Nore. Wild Child Day on 22 August brings outdoor, hands-on activities for younger visitors. Water Heritage Day on 23 August closes the week with a focus on the county’s rivers and the communities that grew beside them. Some events fill quickly - check the full programme at heritageweek.ie before you travel and register where required.
Kilkenny sits on the M9 between Dublin (about 90 minutes) and Waterford (about 30 minutes). Irish Rail runs direct services on the Dublin Heuston to Waterford line several times daily. Bus Eireann connects the city to Dublin, Waterford, Carlow, and Clonmel. Most Heritage Week events in the city centre sit within easy walking distance of each other.
The castle, the medieval mile, Rothe House, and the Butler Gallery are all within a short walk, and the week gives a good reason to slow down and see them properly. There is more to see in Kilkenny and across Co. Kilkenny.
Heading to Multiple venues across Kilkenny in Kilkenny? Kilkenny has plenty more to see. Read the Kilkenny area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.