St Patrick's Festival

On 17 March a parade draws crowds into the centre of Dublin. St Patrick's Day is Ireland's national holiday, and in Dublin it is a festival that runs for several days.

The festival is younger than the holiday. The Government of Ireland set it up in November 1995 as a tourist attraction that would show a modern, creative Ireland, and it has grown into a multi-day event around 17 March. The St Patrick's Day Parade is the centrepiece, and its 2024 edition was reported to have about half a million people involved. Around it, the programme fills with music, street performance and events for families.

The 2027 festival runs from Saturday 13 March to Wednesday 17 March, five days. The full programme is due in January 2027, so check stpatricksfestival.ie for what is on and what needs a ticket.

How to go: Dublin has an international airport and frequent flights from across Europe, and our five-day Dublin guide covers the city. Hotels fill up around the national holiday, so book early. If you want a good spot on the parade route, arrive well before the start and bring a coat, since March in Dublin can be cold and wet.