Connemara festival calendar 2026–2027: Clifden Arts Festival’s 50th, the Pony Show, Inishbofin and the Connemarathon – every date we know

With the clocks gone back and Clifden settling into winter, now is when Connemara regulars start pencilling in next year. The region’s festival year runs from a punishing April road race across the mountains to an 11-day arts festival every September. In between come the world’s biggest gathering of Connemara ponies and a run of island weekends on Inishbofin.

This calendar sets out what happened in 2026 and what is known about 2027. We only call a 2027 date confirmed where the organiser has published it. Everything else is marked dates TBC. Where a tourism listing has pencilled in provisional dates, we say so, but please check with the organiser before booking ferries or rooms.

At a glance: Connemara festival dates 2026–2027

April: the Connemarathon

The Connemarathon has been run since 2002, according to its Wikipedia entry. Its official website has already named the next date: the 23rd edition is on Sunday 25 April 2027. There are three races. The half marathon runs from Leenane to Maam Cross and includes what the organisers call two tough hills. The full marathon starts at Lough Inagh and follows the same route home. The ultra covers 39.3 miles on the course first used in 2023. The FAQ gives a 9am start for the ultra and 11am for the marathon and half. Mullingar Harriers’ race report put the 2026 edition on 19 April 2026 and described the route through Leenane, around the Maumturks and back to Maam Cross. At the time of writing the website shows registration as closed but links to a 2027 sign-up page and an updates list. Check both before entering.

May bank holiday: Inishbofin Arts Festival

Inishbofin’s ticketing portal, run by the island’s Community Services Programme, listed the 2026 Arts Festival for 1–3 May. The weekend programme included The Kilkennys, Paddy Casey, the Irish Guitar Quartet, The Byrne Brothers and a staging of PADDY: The Life and Times of Paddy Armstrong. For 2027, the Galway Tourism listing says the festival is expected over the May bank holiday weekend, 30 April to 2 May 2027, with events at the community centre and St Colman’s Church. The islanders have not formally confirmed this, so it is dates TBC. Ferries leave from Cleggan.

May: Inishbofin Walking Festival

The island’s walking weekend is popular and has sold out before. The 2024 programme on inishbofin.com included a sunrise walk, north and south coast walks (the southern one to the 17th-century Cromwellian fort) and a sunset hill walk, with local guides talking about history and folklore. Galway Tourism lists 14–16 May 2027, marked “tbc”. Treat it as dates TBC. Citylink runs a direct bus from Galway to Cleggan for the ferry.

July: High Road Sessions, Inishbofin

A newer arrival, the High Road Sessions held their second edition on 3–5 July 2026 in a pop-up tent on the island’s high road. IMRO reported that the line-up included Kate Nash, Mick Flannery and Susan O’Neill, Sharon Shannon, Laoise and Garron Noone. It is organised by a collective of islanders, friends and arts people. No 2027 dates have been announced: dates TBC.

August: the Connemara Pony Show, Clifden

The show is the region’s biggest week. The 101st Connemara Pony Show ran on 18–21 August 2026 at the Clifden Showgrounds, according to Agriland and This is Galway. RTÉ reported more than 8,000 expected visitors and about 700 ponies competing. The programme included in-hand classes for foals, stallions and broodmares, ridden and working hunter classes, the All-Ireland three-year-old loose jumping championship and the Parade of Champions through Clifden’s streets. Agriland reported that Clare Oakes chaired the show in 2026 and that Horse Sport Ireland’s investment in prize money that year totalled €15,000. The programme also ran a dog show, domestic arts, Irish dancing and live music.

For 2027, Galway Tourism pencils in 17–20 August 2027 but marks it “tbc”. Until the Show Committee confirms, it is dates TBC. Accommodation in Clifden for show week books up very early, so if you plan to come, a refundable booking is a sensible hedge.

September: Clifden Arts Festival turns 50

Clifden Arts Festival says it began in 1977 as a small school-based event and now calls itself the longest-running community arts festival in Ireland. The 49th edition ran from 17 to 27 September 2026 under the theme OPEN, led by festival director Desmond Lally. This is Galway reported a programme including Eddi Reader, Lúnasa, The Alan Kelly Gang, Niall Breslin with the Polaris Quartet in St Joseph’s Church and a landscape theatre piece on Omey Island. The festival website later noted that one scheduled evening had been cancelled.

The festival’s own website confirms the 50th anniversary in 2027 but has not announced dates. Galway Tourism lists 16–26 September 2027 with a “tbc” marker. For now that is dates TBC, but expect the usual 11 days in mid-to-late September, and expect demand for tickets and rooms to be high for the golden jubilee.

What happens next

The Connemarathon is the only one of these events with a confirmed 2027 date so far. Organisers of the others usually announce dates and programmes in late winter or spring. We will update this calendar as confirmations come in. If you run a Connemara festival and have confirmed 2027 dates, the official sites linked above are where readers should check first, and we are happy to correct or add listings.

Sources

• Connemarathon: official website (accessed 31 October 2026)
• Wikipedia: Connemarathon (accessed 31 October 2026)
• Mullingar Harriers: Connemara Marathon and Ultra Marathon 2026 (19 April) (April 2026)
• Inishbofin Community Services Programme ticket portal: Inishbofin Arts Festival 1–3 May 2026 (accessed 31 October 2026)
• Galway Tourism: Inishbofin Arts Festival (accessed 31 October 2026)
• Inishbofin.com: Inishbofin Walking Festival (2024 programme)
• Galway Tourism: Inishbofin Walking Festival (accessed 31 October 2026)
• IMRO: Inishbofin High Road Sessions 2026 line-up announced (9 June 2026)
• Agriland: Connemara Pony Show to celebrate 101st event in August (2026)
• This is Galway: 101st Connemara Pony Show takes place in Clifden this August (24 July 2026)
• RTÉ News: Packed schedule at 101st Connemara Pony Show in Co Galway (18 August 2026)
• Horse Sport Ireland: Connemara Pony Show, Clifden (accessed 31 October 2026)
• Galway Tourism: Connemara Pony Festival (accessed 31 October 2026)
• Clifden Arts Festival: official website (accessed 31 October 2026)
• Clifden Arts Festival: About (accessed 31 October 2026)
• This is Galway: Clifden Arts Festival announce programme for 49th festival (30 June 2026)
• Galway Tourism: Clifden Arts Festival (accessed 31 October 2026)

Featured image: Connemara – Connemara National Park, Connemara Ponies by Simone, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.