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festivals · Saturday 15 August 2026 · Various 
Strandhill Surffest
At Strandhill Beach · Strandhill, Co. Sligo
At Strandhill Beach · Strandhill, Co. Sligo
Strandhill Surffest is a free three-day beach festival running 15 to 17 August 2026 at Strandhill Beach, bringing together surf competitions, live music, food stalls and family activities at one of the most consistent surf breaks on the island. It suits everyone from serious surf fans to families looking for a lively Atlantic-side weekend - you do not need to know anything about surfing to have a good time here.
The festival fills Strandhill Beach across the full three days. Surf competitions run throughout, with categories spanning different age groups and skill levels; watching heats from the beach is free and gives you a front-row view of some strong Irish surfing. Strandhill has been producing top-level Irish surfers for decades and sits between Easkey and Bundoran in what is arguably the densest concentration of quality waves in the country, so the standard in the water tends to be high.
Off the water, live music stages run through the days with local and visiting acts. Food and drink vendors set up along the beach front, and craft and trade stalls fill out the festival site. There are beach games and activities aimed specifically at children, which makes this a practical choice for families who want a real day out rather than just a spectator event. The County Sligo Surf Club, which is based at Strandhill, is typically involved in organising the competitive side of things.
Conditions are what they are in August on the Atlantic coast - bring a layer, keep an eye on the weather forecast, and pack as though it might be sunny and breezy in the same afternoon. The festival runs in all but the most extreme weather.
Strandhill is roughly 10 kilometres west of Sligo Town on the Coolera Peninsula. By car, take the R292 from Sligo - the drive takes around 15 minutes. There are beach car parks at Strandhill, though during a busy festival weekend they fill early; arriving before midday on Saturday in particular will save you circling. Bus Eireann runs services between Sligo Bus Station and Strandhill, which is a practical option if you would rather skip the parking.
The village itself is small and worth a wander - Voya Seaweed Baths sits right on the seafront and is a well-known stop after a cold morning in the Atlantic. The beach is one of the most photographed in Connacht, with Knocknarea mountain rising to the south and the wide sweep of Sligo Bay to the north. There is more to see in Strandhill and across Co. Sligo.
Heading to Strandhill Beach in Strandhill? Sligo has plenty more to see. Read the Strandhill area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.