With less than three weeks to go until Forest Fest 2026, here’s everything you need to know about one of Ireland’s leading independent music festivals.
When and where is Forest Fest?
Forest Fest 2026 takes place from Friday, July 24th to Sunday, July 26th 2026.
This year, Forest Fest is moving to a brand new site at Bee’s Wing Farm, Emo Village, Co. Laois to accommodate its increased capacity, while maintaining all the comfort and facilities that Forest Fest-goers have come to expect.
Who is playing?
Headliners Echo & The Bunnymen, JAMES and Madness are joined by a host of other incredible acts like Deacon Blue, The Charlatans, The Boomtown Rats, The Undertones, The Coronas, Paul Brady, Feeder, Kerbdog, Ned’s Atomic Dustbin, The Wedding Present and more. You haven’t seen line-ups like this since the glory days of Glastonbury, Feile or the Isle of Wight festival. Forest Fest has also become well-known for championing Ireland’s Folk & Trad music scene with the Forest Fleadh Stage, which this year features Kíla, Dervish, Jiggy and more. For the first time this year, there’s also a brand new, never-been-seen-before element to Forest Fest: The Kickin’ Up Dust Arena, where acts like Nathan Carter, Clíona Hagan and Dave Lofts and Michael English are bringing a mix of Country and Americana to the festival.
A day-by-day breakdown of who’s playing can be found at forestfest.ie.
What are the stage times?
Stage times will be available closer to the festival date via the official Forest Fest app on Woov. Please check the Woov app and official Forest Fest social media @forestfestemo regularly for updates to stage times, event information and other important announcements.
How do I get there?
One of the easiest ways to make your Forest Fest experience greener and more enjoyable is to leave the car at home. Travelling by public transport, whether coach, train, or bus, significantly cuts carbon emissions per person and helps reduce the traffic and congestion that comes with a major festival. Every ticket swapped for a bus seat or train carriage is a small but meaningful step towards making Forest Fest a more sustainable event.
Dedicated Forest Fest coaches run from Dublin, Tullamore, Portlaoise, Mountmellick/Portarlington, Kilkenny, and Cashel, dropping you right at the festival entrance. Timetables and information on how to purchase tickets are available from our bus partners Martley’s HERE.
By train, Portlaoise is well connected by direct intercity services from Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, and more, with hourly shuttle buses running to the site all weekend.
This year we’ll be surveying attendees on-site about how they travelled and everyone who takes part goes into a draw to win tickets to Forest Fest 2027.
If you do opt to travel by car, Forest Fest is located just off the M7 motorway. There is free car parking and pick-up and drop-off points. Follow the appropriate signage.
Where can I stay?
Tent camping passes can be purchased from forestfest.ie.
Please note that glamping, campervan, caravan parking passes are now completely sold out.
There are numerous hotels in Laois and surrounding counties, many of which will be serviced by shuttle buses from Martley’s.
When does the Forest Fest site open?
The Forest Fest Main Arena opening times are as follows:
Friday 24th July | 2pm to 2am
Saturday 25th July | 12pm to 2am
Sunday 26th July | 12pm to 12am
The Kickin’ Up Dust Arena opening times are as follows:
Thursday 23 July | 6pm to 12am*
Friday 24th July | 2pm to 2am
Saturday 25th July | 12pm to 2am
Sunday 26th July | 12pm to 12am
*For caravan, campervan & glamping ticketholders only
What time do campsites open?
Campervan, caravan and glamping ticketholders only can access the site from 3pm on Thursday 23rd July.
General camping is open from 12pm on Friday 24th July.
All campsites must be cleared by 2pm on Monday 27th July.
Is Forest Fest accessible to all?
Forest Fest is committed to making the festival accessible to all attendees. Eligible ticket holders can apply for Accessibility Support, including a free Accessibility Companion Ticket for those who require assistance, with documentation such as an Irish Wheelchair Association permit, medical evidence, or registration with a recognised organisation.
The festival offers designated accessible parking and camping, an accessible viewing platform in the Main Arena, accessible toilets and facilities, medication storage, equipment charging on request, and priority access queues for wristband holders.
Full details are available at forestfest.ie/accessibility.
What are Forest Fest’s age restrictions?
Persons of all ages can attend Forest Fest. However, under 18s must be accompanied by a ticketholder over 23 years of age.
What to leave at home
To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone, a number of items are not permitted on the Forest Fest site. Anyone found carrying prohibited items will have them confiscated at the gate, and those found in possession of illegal substances will be referred to Gardaí.
Prohibited items include cooking equipment such as BBQs (including disposable), camping stoves, and gas canisters, as well as gazebos, garden furniture, and generators. Glass, plastic bottles, and spray cans are not permitted, nor are sound systems, speakers, megaphones, drones, or professional cameras with detachable lenses. For the safety of all attendees, knives, weapons, fireworks, flares, lasers, and smoke-making devices are strictly forbidden. Kites, flag poles, umbrellas, lanterns, incense, bikes, HiVis clothing, and goods for trading are also on the prohibited list. Animals are welcome only in the form of guide dogs.
Liquids policy
No liquids of any kind may be brought through the entrance gates, and all bags are subject to search on arrival. Alcohol and any other liquids will be confiscated at the gate. Free drinking water is available at multiple points across the site, so reusable bottles and flasks can be filled once you’re inside.
The following exceptions apply: hand sanitiser and sunscreen in containers of up to 50ml are permitted, as are larger aerosol sunscreens. Attendees with essential prescription medication, such as insulin, may bring clearly labelled liquids and should declare these to security on arrival.
For a full list of restricted items please see forestfest.ie.
Can I bring camping chairs into the arena?
Camping and folding chairs are welcome at Forest Fest, but their use is restricted to designated areas within the arena zones. Chairs are not permitted inside any covered venue, in order to maintain clear sightlines, safe crowd movement, and emergency access routes. The official site map and signage across the site will indicate where chairs may be used, and our festival team will be on hand throughout the weekend to help. We kindly ask all attendees to follow steward instructions regarding chair placement.
What is Forest Fest’s sustainability policy?
Bring less – Use the bins – Take home what you bring
Forest Fest 2026 continues to deepen its commitment to sustainability, building on a 2025 impact assessment with Rubbish Ideas that highlighted strong performance in carbon management, waste reduction, and material reuse. Working with Native Events, the festival’s 2026 focus areas are reducing emissions, protecting biodiversity, and encouraging collective action, with practical initiatives planned across energy, transport, water, waste, food and drink, and governance. Each year, we collaborate with different stakeholders to advance our sustainability journey. In 2026, we are focusing on traders and attendees, working together to create a greener, more responsible festival for everyone involved.
On energy, the festival is moving toward a more sustainable mix including hybrid and biofuel generators alongside solar and battery systems. Attendees are encouraged to walk, cycle, or travel by public transport and coaches, and a survey on how attendees travelled will be sent post festival to help us measure our impact. The festival will also continue to work closely with local suppliers to cut transport emissions.
The reusable cup scheme returns for all bars with an even higher target return rate, supported by clearer bin signage and on-site “Forest Guardians” to help with recycling. We are also encouraging our public to be more mindful of what you bring on site and follow a Leave no Trace approach.
Biodiversity is central to this year’s festival following its move to the new Bee’s Wing Farm site, with Forest Fest partnering with Kildare Wildlife Rescue and following Ireland’s National Pollinator Plan to protect the land through nature-friendly signage and workshops. Traders will be supported through a dedicated workshop on reducing energy use and waste and sustainable practices. They will follow clear guidelines on waste, materials, and biodegradable or reusable serveware, while our food and drink policy will encourage local, seasonal, and vegetarian options.
The festival commits to transparent governance through ongoing impact reporting, onsite signage and local sourcing. New for 2026 is a dedicated Sustainability Hub within the Living Lab, anchored by MyWaste Greenhouse Stage hosting talks and workshops, alongside an interactive WEEE recycling installation (Trash EEE-lk) in partnership with the European Recycling Platform. Full details are available at forestfest.ie/sustainability.
Who are Forest Fest’s partners and sponsors?
Partners for 2026 include Heineken, Bacardi, Bombay Sapphire, High Noon, MyWaste and European Recycling Platform.
Forest Fest actively supports local enterprise: glamping is provided by Abbeyleix-based Pitched Perfect, and craft beers come from Wicklow Wolf and Ballykilcavan Brewing Co.