The Strokestown International Poetry Festival 2026 will take place over the May Bank Holiday weekend from Friday, 1 May (Poetry Day Ireland) to Sunday, 3 May in the beautiful sylvan setting of Strokestown Park House, Co. Roscommon.
Ireland’s longest-running poetry festival, now in its fifth year under the direction of Joe Woods, will present a vibrant programme featuring a diverse mix of local, national, and international voices. Festival-goers can look forward to bilingual readings, book launches, film screenings, workshops, and a lively open-mic and music night.
More than twenty-five poets will appear over the course of the weekend, with additional guest poets to be confirmed. Books by all participating authors, representing more than fifteen publishers, will be available throughout the festival at the on-site Salmon Bookshop.
Festival highlights include:
- A gala reading celebrating Salmon Poetry’s 45th anniversary, featuring five of Salmon’s acclaimed poets: Rachael Hegarty, Joan McBreen, Jessamine O’Connor, Nessa O’Mahony, & Adam Wyeth.
- A workshop and reading by the supremely talented Sheffield poet Helen Mort.
- The launch of the final issue of Cyphers (No. 100), the influential literary journal published since 1975.
- The Joan McBreen Keynote Address, delivered this year by Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, who will speak about readers of poetry.
- Poetry Films screening from contemporary Irish poets & performers in association with the Adrian Brinkerhoff Poetry Foundation.
- Announcement and readings by the shortlisted poets of this year’s Strokestown International Poetry Competition.
The festival continues its long tradition of celebrating poetry in a convivial and welcoming setting, bringing together established and emerging writers with readers from across Ireland and abroad.
Further festival details and weekend tickets—offering exceptional value at €50—are now available at strokestownpoetryfest.ie/all-tickets/