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seasonal · Sunday 12 July 2026 · Various 
Ballina Salmon Festival
At Various venues throughout Ballina · Ballina, Co. Mayo
At Various venues throughout Ballina · Ballina, Co. Mayo
Now in its 62nd year, the Ballina Salmon Festival has genuinely earned the word “tradition.” Running from Sunday 12 to Sunday 19 July 2026 along the River Moy, it draws up to 40,000 people to north County Mayo - not with a single headline act, but with eight days of sport, heritage, music and community competitions that feel rooted in the place. It suits families, history enthusiasts, outdoor swimmers and anyone who wants to spend a week in a town that is properly alive.
The programme spans the full range. On the water, the Heyco Moy Swim - billed as Ireland’s oldest river swim - offers a 600m youth course and a 2.5km race finishing at Quay Village. The Cruinniú na Mbád (Gathering of the Boats) brings the maritime traditions of the Moy to life at Lower Bridge from 7pm.
National Heritage Day on Wednesday 15 July is the festival’s centrepiece, developed over 25 years by the committee. It recreates a Mayo market town from a century ago, with live demonstrations of blacksmithing, thatching and basket-making, period dress competitions, traditional music and dance, artisan stalls and storytelling. Admission is free.
Sport runs throughout the week: the Marian Browne 5K Fun Run takes in Belleek Woods, and the Mayo Fit Games bring 12 high-energy fitness competitions. Family events include a Teddy Bears’ Picnic in Tom Ruane Park (€3 per person) and children’s workshops. The grand finale on Saturday 18 July brings live music and a fireworks display over the river at 11pm.
Ballina sits in north County Mayo on the N26 - roughly 45 minutes from Castlebar and 50 minutes from Westport by car. From Dublin, the N4/N5 route via Longford takes under three hours. Bus Éireann runs services to Ballina from Dublin and Galway; check current timetables on the Bus Éireann website before you travel. Parking is available throughout the town centre.
The River Moy is one of the most productive salmon rivers in Ireland, so the festival connection is genuinely local. The nearby Belleek Woods offer riverside walks a short stroll from the town. There is more to see in Ballina and across Co. Mayo.
Heading to Various venues throughout Ballina in Ballina? Mayo has plenty more to see. Read the Ballina area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.