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music · Friday 28 August 2026 · Various 
Electric Picnic 2026
At Stradbally Hall · Stradbally Hall, Stradbally, Co. Laois
At Stradbally Hall · Stradbally Hall, Stradbally, Co. Laois
Electric Picnic has been running since 2004 and is now Ireland’s largest music, arts and comedy festival, drawing 75,000 people to the grounds of Stradbally Hall every August Bank Holiday weekend. The 2026 edition runs across three days - Friday 28th through Sunday 30th August - and covers a staggering range of music, arts, comedy, theatre and talks. If you have ever wondered what a small city that happened to run on live music would look like, this is about as close as you’ll get.
The 2026 headline slots go to Gorillaz on Saturday night (their Stradbally debut) and Fontaines D.C. on Sunday. Friday headline duties fall to Sombr. The broader lineup runs deep: Wolf Alice, Djo, JADE, Zara Larsson, Skepta, Loyle Carner, Wunderhorse and Ravyn Lenae all feature, alongside a strong Irish contingent including CMAT, The Mary Wallopers, The Saw Doctors and Florence Road.
Beyond the main stages, Electric Picnic has always been as much about what is happening off them. The Body & Soul village brings together wellness, immersive art and late-night electronic music in its own corner of the estate. The Mindfield area hosts talks, debates and ideas events. There is comedy, theatre, visual art, workshops, and a full food and drink village - all cashless, so leave the cash at home. Camping opens on Friday morning (campsites typically open at 9am), with standard, quiet and family camping zones spread across the estate.
Stradbally is a small town in the midlands, about 80km from Dublin. By road, follow the M7 motorway and exit at Junction 16 (Ballydavis interchange), then take the R445 toward Portlaoise before picking up the R425. Once you are in the area, follow festival signage and Garda directions rather than relying on sat-nav. Free car parks are staffed 24 hours during the festival weekend.
If you are coming by public transport, Marathon Coaches run hourly services from Dublin’s North Wall Quay. There are also shuttle buses from Portlaoise and Portarlington train stations to the festival site. This is genuinely one of the easier big Irish festivals to reach without a car.
Stradbally is a quiet midlands town for most of the year, but the Hall estate is worth a look in its own right. There is more to see in Stradbally and across Co. Laois.
Heading to Stradbally Hall in Stradbally? Laois has plenty more to see. Read the Stradbally area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.