Puca Festival 2026 - Trim and Athboy

Púca Festival is billed as Ireland’s official Samhain festival, and Co. Meath is where it happens: the ancient Boyne Valley is said to be where Samhain, the Celtic festival that became Halloween, originated. The 2026 edition runs across four days, Thursday 29 October to Sunday 1 November, spread between Trim and Athboy. The theme for 2026 is “Between Worlds”, reflecting the idea of Samhain as the moment when the boundary between this world and the otherworld is at its thinnest.

What to Expect

The festival brings together live music, comedy, storytelling, food and folklore across both towns, with theatrical and immersive experiences drawing on Irish Samhain traditions. Confirmed headliners for 2026 include Glen Hansard, The Coronas, Róisín O, Hothouse Flowers, Jerry Fish, Qween and the Dublin Gospel Choir. The centrepiece of the weekend is the lighting of the Samhain Fire on the night of 31 October, followed by the Púca Procession through the streets of Trim, drawing on the town’s medieval setting around Trim Castle. Big Top shows are strictly 16+, and the Samhain Circus is 18+ only; other festival events are open to all ages.

Good to Know

• Dates: Thursday 29 October to Sunday 1 November 2026
• Towns: Trim and Athboy, Co. Meath
• Samhain Fire lighting: night of Saturday 31 October
• Town-wide events are free to attend; Big Top and Samhain Circus performances require tickets, booked through the festival website
• Bag policy on site: bags larger than 40cm x 40cm x 20cm are not permitted, and outside alcohol is not allowed
• Booking and full programme: pucafestival.com

Getting There

Trim is about 45km from Dublin via the M3 and R154, with Athboy a further 15km northwest on the R154/R156. Both towns get busy during the festival, so allow extra time for parking and consider arriving early for the Saturday night fire lighting.