Forest Fest 2026, the fifth edition of the annual music and arts festival, will take place from July 24th to July 26th in Emo, County Laois. The event will be held at Bees Wing Farm on the outskirts of the village, marking a shift from its previous location on the GAA grounds in the center of the town. This change allows for greater capacity and improved facilities. The festival will feature a lineup heavily influenced by 1980s and 1990s indie music, with a notable presence of Irish artists. The festival will begin on Thursday, July 23rd, for those holding caravan, campervan, or glamping tickets, offering early access to the site. Early access activities will commence in the Kickin’ Up Dust arena starting at 6pm with performances by Hermitage Green, The Valves, The Jury, The Bluffers, and Half The Truth. From Friday, July 24th, the main arena will be open, featuring six stages with multiple acts scheduled throughout the weekend. The full schedule can be accessed via the official Forest Fest app or their website. Specific stage times include: On Friday, The Charlatans perform at 6.50pm, followed by The Wedding Present at 7.50pm, The Chameleons at 6.10pm, Dea Matrona at 4.30pm, Dylan Flynn & The Dead Poets at 3.50pm, and Björn Again at 12.20am. On Saturday, The Fratellis play at 6.05pm, Paul Brady at 7.40pm, The Coronas at 9.20pm, Deacon Blue at 11pm, James at 1am, and The Boomtown Rats at 6.30pm. Sunday features Madness at 8.10pm, Qween and the Dublin Gospel Choir at 10.10pm, and other acts including Feeder, Cry Before Dawn, and the Suso Gospel Choir. Camping options vary, with tent camping passes available through forestfest.ie. Glamping, campervan, and caravan parking passes have been fully booked. General camping opens on Friday, July 24th, at 12pm, and all campsites must be vacated by 2pm on Monday, July 27th. Campervan, caravan, and glamping sites are accessible from 3pm on Thursday, July 23rd. Several hotels in Laois and nearby areas offer accommodation, with shuttle services operated by Martley’s providing transport from various locations. Transportation to the festival includes dedicated Forest Fest coaches departing from Dublin, Tullamore, Portlaoise, Mountmellick/Portarlington, Kilkenny, and Cashel. By train, Portlaoise is well-connected with direct services from major cities such as Dublin, Cork, Galway, and Limerick, complemented by hourly shuttle buses during the event. For drivers, the festival is located near the M7 motorway, with free parking and designated pick-up and drop-off zones. Age restrictions apply, with children aged 12 and under admitted free if accompanied by a ticket-holding adult. Older children aged 13-17 require a paid ticket, priced at €90 for the weekend or €50 for individual days. Under-18s must be supervised by someone over 23 years old. Accessibility is a key focus, with efforts made to ensure the event is inclusive for all attendees.
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