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comedy · Friday 24 July 2026 · Various 
Forest Fest 2026 - Comedy
At Bee's Wing Farm, Emo Village · Emo Village, Co. Laois
At Bee's Wing Farm, Emo Village · Emo Village, Co. Laois
A full weekend of live music, comedy, arts, and family craic at a working farm on the edge of a quiet Laois village - Forest Fest has been quietly building one of the most relaxed festival experiences in the midlands since its launch in 2022. Founded by Philip Meagher, a former solicitor who wanted something less crowded and more community-minded than the big stadium circuit, it won Best Festival at the Midlands Hospitality Awards in 2023 and has kept growing since. If you want to catch live comedy in a field rather than a city venue, this is a good excuse to point the car at Emo.
Forest Fest 2026 runs across three days at Bee’s Wing Farm, with over 80 acts spread across multiple stages. The main music headliners are Echo & The Bunnymen, James, and Madness, and there is a dedicated Kickin’ Up Dust (KUD) Arena for country, Americana, folk, and roots music. Comedy performances are programmed alongside the music across the weekend - specific acts had not been publicly confirmed at time of writing, so check the Forest Fest website for the latest lineup as the event approaches.
Beyond the stages, the site has artisan food trucks, craft beer and cocktail bars, a makers area with local craft stalls, circus and street theatre, drumming workshops, and a fun fair for younger children. A Festival Club runs late each night with a bar and live music after the main stages close. Camping is available on-site across a range of ticket types - tent passes, campervan, caravan, and family camping - though arena access tickets are sold separately from the camping passes, so read the options carefully before booking.
Children under 12 get in free when accompanied by an adult, and there are discounted teen tickets for ages 13 to 18.
Bee’s Wing Farm is in Emo Village, roughly 10km south of Portlaoise and just 5km from Exit 15 on the M7. From Dublin, the drive is about 80km via the M7 - under an hour in normal traffic. On-site parking is available.
If you prefer not to drive, there are regular hourly trains to Portlaoise and Portarlington stations, and Martley’s Bus runs shuttle services to the festival from Dublin, Portlaoise, Portarlington, Mountmellick, Tullamore, Kilkenny, and Durrow. Check the Forest Fest website for the bus booking link and times. Local taxis also serve the venue.
Emo itself is a small, unhurried village, and the grounds of Emo Court - a neoclassical house with extensive parklands managed by the OPW - are a short walk away and free to visit. It makes for a calm contrast to three days on a festival site. There is more to see in Emo and across Co. Laois.
Heading to Bee's Wing Farm, Emo Village in Emo? Laois has plenty more to see. Read the Emo area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.