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festivals · Friday 10 July 2026 · Various 
Carrick Water Music Festival 2026
At Multiple venues throughout Carrick-on-Shannon · Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim
At Multiple venues throughout Carrick-on-Shannon · Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim
The Carrick Water Music Festival brings three days of opera, classical, jazz, world and folk music to the banks of the River Shannon each July, turning Carrick-on-Shannon into one of the more surprising festival towns in the country. Now in its 12th year, the festival is run by volunteers and draws national and international artists to a town that genuinely suits the occasion - the river is right there, the venues are intimate, and the whole thing has the easy pace of somewhere that hasn’t yet been overrun.
The programme spreads across a handful of venues that make the most of Carrick’s waterfront setting. Concerts take place on the Moon River Pleasure Cruiser, in the atmospheric surrounds of St. George’s Church, at The Dock Arts Centre, and in local hotels and outdoor spots at Boathouse Bay. The mix of genres is broad by design - you might catch a classical recital in the morning and a late-night jazz session in a pub the same evening.
Beyond the concerts, the festival layers in a Festival Film Club, French markets, art exhibitions and auctions, literary events, drama and children’s workshops. Several events in the public programme are free, so even if you haven’t booked a ticket it’s worth being in town. The programme runs from morning into the small hours, with lunchtime music events letting you time a good meal around the schedule.
Carrick-on-Shannon sits on the N4, roughly equidistant between Dublin and Sligo - about two hours from the capital and under an hour from Sligo town. Bus Eireann runs regular services along the Dublin - Sligo corridor with stops in Carrick. The town is compact, and once you’re in you can walk between most festival venues. Parking is available around the town centre and along the riverfront, though weekend afternoons fill up quickly during the festival - arriving early or using the edges of town and walking in is the sensible approach.
The Shannon is a constant here - boat hire, river cruises and kayaking are all available in town if you want a few hours on the water before or after a concert. There is more to see in Carrick-on-Shannon and across Co. Leitrim.
Heading to Multiple venues throughout Carrick-on-Shannon in Carrick-on-Shannon? Leitrim has plenty more to see. Read the Carrick-on-Shannon area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.