Events in Cork
International Choral Festival
April/May
One of Europe’s top choral events, this festival takes place in the five days leading up to the first Monday in May. Most performances and competitions take place in Cork’s City Hall, while fringe events are housed in churches across Cork.
Cork Midsummer Festival
June
This all-embracing arts festival brings top international names and home-grown Irish talent to Cork with a series of performances over 10 days, starting on Midsummer’s Day. Anywhere can be turned into a performance venue, from the roof of City Hall to a factory floor.
Guinness Cork Jazz Festival
October
Ireland’s biggest jazz festival has been running since 1978, drawing tens of thousands of fans to Cork every year. Many of the greats, from Ella Fitzgerald to Dizzy Gillespie, have performed at this event over the years. The festival lasts for four days and embraces more than 1,000 musicians from all over the world.
Cork Folk Festival
October
Traditional music reigns supreme for four days each October, when the Cork Folk Festival comes to town. This lively event features concerts, impromptu sessions, talks, workshops and special events for kids.
Film Festival
October/November
Lovers of Irish cinema flock to Cork for this week-long festival, which has been running since 1956. This big-screen feast covers everything from feature films to documentaries.