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music · Friday 18 September 2026 · Various 
Boyne Tradfest 2026
At Various Boyne Valley venues · Navan, Co. Meath
At Various Boyne Valley venues · Navan, Co. Meath
A weekend of traditional Irish music spread across pubs, arts venues and session spots along the Boyne Valley - the Boyne Tradfest draws accomplished musicians and enthusiastic listeners to the river corridor each September. The festival is rooted in the trad session tradition rather than a single ticketed stage show, which means you can dip in and out across the weekend, catch a masterclass on a weekday afternoon and follow the music into a pub session late at night. It suits musicians looking to sit in and play, families who want a relaxed cultural outing, and anyone with an ear for fiddle, uilleann pipes and bodhrán in a living room-sized setting rather than a concert hall.
The Boyne Tradfest runs across three days from 18 September 2026, with the programme typically built around four strands: workshops, session trails, recitals and céilí dancing. Workshops are three-hour masterclasses with skilled tutors covering instruments including harp, fiddle, uilleann pipes and bodhrán - good if you play yourself and want to learn from seasoned players rather than just watch. Session trails are the real draw for most visitors: a rotating circuit of pub and community sessions where local and visiting musicians set up, invite others to join and let the tunes run until they feel like stopping. Recitals connect the music to the wider heritage of the Boyne Valley, and the céilí nights give non-musicians a chance to get on the floor. Over 50 musicians typically take part across the festival. Some headline concerts carry a small admission charge; pub sessions are free to walk into. The full 2026 programme is announced closer to the date at boynetradfest.ie.
Navan sits at the heart of the Boyne Valley, roughly 50 km north-west of Dublin. Bus Eireann route 109 connects Dublin Busáras to Navan in around an hour, with regular services throughout the day. By road, the N3 from Dublin or the M1/M2 from the north will get you into town. Because festival events spread across the valley - including venues in Drogheda and smaller Boyne towns - a car is the most practical way to follow the full session trail. Town centre car parks in Navan are pay-and-display; street parking is available on side streets away from the main square.
The Boyne Valley is one of the most historically loaded stretches of land in Ireland, with Newgrange, the Hill of Tara and Trim Castle all within easy reach of the town. The River Boyne towpath makes for a good walk between sessions. There is more to see in Navan and across Co. Meath.
Heading to Various Boyne Valley venues in Navan? Meath has plenty more to see. Read the Navan area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.