Beowulf - A Thousand Years of Baggage
Set Theatre
New York ensemble Banana Bag & Bodice bring you a riotous, raw and rowdy retelling of this ancient tale, set to the rhythms of an explosive seven-piece band

Tabernacle
The Watergate Theatre
Fearghus Ó Conchúir, one of Ireland’s leading independent choreographers, presents an exciting new dance piece that takes a thoughtful look at changing attitudes to religion

Guo Yue - Cookery Demonstration
Set Theatre
Guo Yue, author, chef, composer and flute player awakens the senses at a Chinese cookery masterclass.

Guo Yue - Performance
The Hole in the Wall
Guo Yue, author, chef, composer and flute player plays an intimate show at the Hole in the Wall.

Barry Guy & Evan Parker
St. John’s Priory
A rare chance to see these giants of jazz improv play together as a duo, sharing the intuitive musical understanding they’ve built up over more than forty years.

New Music Night
Set Theatre
Presenting Somadrone, Geppetto, Thread Puls, Margie Lewis and Toby Kaar.

The Big Deal
Barnstorm Theatre
Una McKevitt returns to Kilkenny with the extraordinary real-life story of two women who knew from a very young age that they were born into the wrong bodies

TC Boyle, Introduced by Colm Toibin
The Parade Tower
The charismatic American author brings his unforgettable characters and corruscating satire to Kilkenny

Kaleidoscope
Design Centre
This laidback salon-style night comes to Kilkenny for two nights of music, song and surprise, mixing the classical with the cutting edge

Mari Kvien Brunvoll
Cleere’s - Festival Hub
A genuine original with a captivating voice that straddles jazz, electro pop and acoustic blues with ease.

Drums Off Chaos and Philip Jeck
Set Theatre
Since 1982, Jaki Liebezeit, Reiner Linke and Maf Retter have been creating headspinning storms of multi-layered groove using odd meters and unconventional rhythms.

The Amazing Few - End of Festival Party
Set Theatre
An 11-piece band (and counting) who play ‘psycho-pop’; a unique style of music that leans heavily on ska, nicks pop’s lunch money and gives punk a wedgie.

Beowulf - A Thousand Years of Baggage
Set Theatre
New York ensemble Banana Bag & Bodice bring you a riotous, raw and rowdy retelling of this ancient tale, set to the rhythms of an explosive seven-piece band

Tabernacle
The Watergate Theatre
Fearghus Ó Conchúir, one of Ireland’s leading independent choreographers, presents an exciting new dance piece that takes a thoughtful look at changing attitudes to religion

Guo Yue - Cookery Demonstration
Set Theatre
Guo Yue, author, chef, composer and flute player awakens the senses at a Chinese cookery masterclass.

Guo Yue - Performance
The Hole in the Wall
Guo Yue, author, chef, composer and flute player plays an intimate show at the Hole in the Wall.

Barry Guy & Evan Parker
St. John’s Priory
A rare chance to see these giants of jazz improv play together as a duo, sharing the intuitive musical understanding they’ve built up over more than forty years.

New Music Night
Set Theatre
Presenting Somadrone, Geppetto, Thread Puls, Margie Lewis and Toby Kaar.

The Big Deal
Barnstorm Theatre
Una McKevitt returns to Kilkenny with the extraordinary real-life story of two women who knew from a very young age that they were born into the wrong bodies

TC Boyle, Introduced by Colm Toibin
The Parade Tower
The charismatic American author brings his unforgettable characters and corruscating satire to Kilkenny

Kaleidoscope
Design Centre
This laidback salon-style night comes to Kilkenny for two nights of music, song and surprise, mixing the classical with the cutting edge

Mari Kvien Brunvoll
Cleere’s - Festival Hub
A genuine original with a captivating voice that straddles jazz, electro pop and acoustic blues with ease.

Drums Off Chaos and Philip Jeck
Set Theatre
Since 1982, Jaki Liebezeit, Reiner Linke and Maf Retter have been creating headspinning storms of multi-layered groove using odd meters and unconventional rhythms.

The Amazing Few - End of Festival Party
Set Theatre
An 11-piece band (and counting) who play ‘psycho-pop’; a unique style of music that leans heavily on ska, nicks pop’s lunch money and gives punk a wedgie.

Barry Guy & Evan Parker
St. John’s Priory
A rare chance to see these giants of jazz improv play together as a duo, sharing the intuitive musical understanding they’ve built up over more than forty years.

Beowulf - A Thousand Years of Baggage
Set Theatre
New York ensemble Banana Bag & Bodice bring you a riotous, raw and rowdy retelling of this ancient tale, set to the rhythms of an explosive seven-piece band

Drums Off Chaos and Philip Jeck
Set Theatre
Since 1982, Jaki Liebezeit, Reiner Linke and Maf Retter have been creating headspinning storms of multi-layered groove using odd meters and unconventional rhythms.

Guo Yue - Cookery Demonstration
Set Theatre
Guo Yue, author, chef, composer and flute player awakens the senses at a Chinese cookery masterclass.

Guo Yue - Performance
The Hole in the Wall
Guo Yue, author, chef, composer and flute player plays an intimate show at the Hole in the Wall.

Kaleidoscope
Design Centre
This laidback salon-style night comes to Kilkenny for two nights of music, song and surprise, mixing the classical with the cutting edge

Mari Kvien Brunvoll
Cleere’s - Festival Hub
A genuine original with a captivating voice that straddles jazz, electro pop and acoustic blues with ease.

New Music Night
Set Theatre
Presenting Somadrone, Geppetto, Thread Puls, Margie Lewis and Toby Kaar.

Tabernacle
The Watergate Theatre
Fearghus Ó Conchúir, one of Ireland’s leading independent choreographers, presents an exciting new dance piece that takes a thoughtful look at changing attitudes to religion

TC Boyle, Introduced by Colm Toibin
The Parade Tower
The charismatic American author brings his unforgettable characters and corruscating satire to Kilkenny

The Amazing Few - End of Festival Party
Set Theatre
An 11-piece band (and counting) who play ‘psycho-pop’; a unique style of music that leans heavily on ska, nicks pop’s lunch money and gives punk a wedgie.

The Big Deal
Barnstorm Theatre
Una McKevitt returns to Kilkenny with the extraordinary real-life story of two women who knew from a very young age that they were born into the wrong bodies

Help me Choose
Every year the Kilkenny Arts Festival brings so many amazing events to our city that its almost impossible to make sure you find all the events that may appeal to you. So we've put on our thinking caps and come up with this simple reference to suggest events you may not have considered.
My First Festival
This is my first time at an arts festival. I want to see what this festival is all about. I haven't heard of a lot of these names before and I'd like suggestions on what might be great to see.
My Inspiring Festival
I want to think. I want to get out of my comfort zone and confront the world head on. I don't want to be spoon fed. I want to be blown away. I want to argue.
My Surprising Festival
I want to find those hidden gems - things I may not have heard of but once I've experienced I will never forget.
My Alternative Festival
I want to see edgier, grittier more experimental stuff. I want to dance, have some fun. I want to stay up late.

















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