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seasonal · Wednesday 19 August 2026 · Evening concerts from 8:00pm; daytime sessions 
Masters of Tradition Festival 2026
At Bantry House, Maritime Hotel and various venues · Bantry, Co. Cork
At Bantry House, Maritime Hotel and various venues · Bantry, Co. Cork
Five days in August when Bantry becomes one of the best places in Ireland to hear traditional music played at the highest level - that is the promise of Masters of Tradition. Organised by West Cork Music under the artistic direction of Martin Hayes, the festival draws together Irish and international traditional musicians for concerts, workshops, talks, and the kind of late-night pub sessions that people talk about for years. It suits anyone who takes trad seriously, but the atmosphere is welcoming enough for curious newcomers who simply want to hear great music in an exceptional setting.
The 2026 programme runs 19 to 23 August and spreads across several distinct venues, each with its own character. Headline concerts take place at the Maritime Hotel and in the library of Bantry House - the latter setting being particularly memorable, a candlelit room in an 18th-century mansion overlooking Bantry Bay. Talks about music and heritage are held at Marino Church. The festival is also known for its secret concerts on Whiddy Island, reached by a short boat crossing, which give the week an adventure of its own.
Confirmed performers for 2026 include Clíodhna Ní Aodáin, Méabh Begley, Aoife Ní Bhriain, Ciara Ní Bhriain, Louise Mulcahy, Ciarán Ó Gealbháin, Charlie Piggot, Ryan Young, and Stuart McCallum, among others, with ensemble projects including The Breath and The Weaving also on the bill. Workshops and classes run alongside the concerts for musicians of all instruments and levels.
The free element of the festival - the impromptu sessions that run in the streets and pubs of Bantry throughout the week - is arguably what gives it its reputation. These are not organised performances; they start when musicians who have just come off stage pull up a stool somewhere and keep playing.
Bantry is roughly 90 kilometres west of Cork city on the N71, a scenic Atlantic coastal road that takes about 90 minutes to drive. There is no direct rail connection. Bus Éireann runs services between Cork and Bantry, though frequency is limited so check timetables in advance if travelling without a car. During the festival week parking in the town centre fills quickly in the evenings; arriving early or parking on the outskirts and walking in is sensible.
The town sits at the head of Bantry Bay with the Sheep’s Head and Beara peninsulas stretching out beyond it - some of the least-visited coastline in West Cork, worth a day’s drive if you are staying for the full festival week. There is more to see in Bantry and across Co. Cork.
Heading to Bantry House, Maritime Hotel and various venues in Bantry? Cork has plenty more to see. Read the Bantry area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.