Allingham Arts Festival set to launch in Ballyshannon
The launch this evening at the Abbey Arts Centre will feature live music from two homegrown talents, Rian Mc Cauley and Michael Joseph Mc Colgan
The 2026 Allingham Arts Festival will be officially launched at the Abbey Arts Centre in Ballyshannon this evening, with a free evening of music and festivities.
The launch night will begin with a wine reception at 7.30pm, followed by the official festival launch and a preview of the 2026 programme at 8pm.
The evening will feature live music from two homegrown talents, Rian Mc Cauley and Michael Joseph Mc Colgan. Rian Mc Cauley has enjoyed a successful year in 2026, having performed alongside Tinie Tempah at Electric Picnic. He was also named a Highland Radio Local Hero.
Ballyshannon musician Michael Joseph McColgan is an emerging rock and blues guitar player who recently won the Letterkenny Chamber Busking Competition. The launch offers an opportunity to celebrate local musical talent while giving attendees a preview of what is planned for this year's Allingham Arts Festival.
Admission is free and everyone is welcome to attend the event at the Abbey Arts Centre in Ballyshannon, with the wine reception beginning at 7.30pm.
The Festival will return to Ballyshannon from Wednesday, November 4, to Sunday, November 8, 2026, bringing five days of literature, poetry, music, film, drama, history and storytelling to south Donegal.
According to the festival’s official website, “this year’s programme features an array of local, national and international artists, with events celebrating the arts and the legacy of Ballyshannon-born poet William Allingham.”
The full programme is available online, with tickets on sale for events through the festival website and the Abbey Arts Centre box office.
The festival’s headline guests include writer and broadcaster Michael Harding, novelist and poet Elaine Feeney, journalist and author Róisín Ingle, writer Paul Howard and author Ann Ingle. Music will feature prominently, with performances by Jack Lukeman, known as Jack L, Johnny Gallagher and a special traditional music concert celebrating the distinctive Donegal sound.