Forest Fest 2026: Everything You Need To Know Before This Year’s Festival

New Venue For 2026

One of the major differences this year is the move to the new festival location in Bee’s Wing Farm, Emo.

The move will help Forest Fest to expand and still maintain the same facilities and atmosphere which have established their reputation.

Lineup Highlights In 2026

Some big names from rock, indie, folk and Irish music have been brought together in this year’s festival.

Main acts include:

• Echo & The Bunnymen

• James

• Madness

Other artists include:

• Deacon Blue

• The Charlatans

• The Boomtown Rats

• The Undertones

• The Coronas

• Paul Brady

• Feeder

• Kerbdog

• Ned’s Atomic Dustbin

• The Wedding Present

Forest Fest will still maintain its interest in Irish traditional music in its “Forest Fleadh” stage which will include such acts as Kíla, Dervish and Jiggy. A new addition in 2026 is the Kickin’ Up Dust Arena.

Festival Opening Times

The main arena opens:

• Friday 24 July : 2pm – 2am

• Saturday 25 July : 12pm – 2am

• Sunday 26 July : 12pm – 12am

The Kickin’ Up Dust Arena will open earlier for campervan, caravan and glamping ticket holders from Thursday evening.

Travel Information

Organisers are encouraging visitors to use public transport where possible.

Dedicated Forest Fest coaches will operate from locations including Dublin, Tullamore, Portlaoise, Mountmellick/Portarlington, Kilkenny and Cashel.

For those travelling by train, Portlaoise will provide the main transport connection, with shuttle buses operating throughout the weekend.

Camping & Accommodation

General camping opens from midday on Friday 24 July.

Campervan, caravan and glamping passes are already sold out, while tent camping remains available through the festival website.

Accessibility

Forest Fest continues to provide accessibility support, including accessible parking, camping facilities, viewing areas, toilets and companion tickets for eligible attendees.

What You Cannot Bring

Festival organisers have reminded attendees that certain items are prohibited, including:

• BBQs and cooking equipment

• Gas canisters

• Glass bottles

• Generators

• Large speakers

• Drones

• Professional cameras

• Weapons and fireworks

Attendees are encouraged to check the official guidance before arriving.

Final Thoughts

Forest Fest 2026 looks set to be one of the biggest editions of the festival so far.

With a new location, a strong lineup and a continued focus on community and live music, this year's event marks an important step in the festival's growth.

For anyone heading to Emo this July, the countdown is officially on.