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Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival 2026 – A Landmark Year Ahead

1/13/2026

The Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival 2026 is set to be one of the greatest in its history as it celebrates its 22nd staging in the town of Rory’s birth, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, Ireland. Taking place from 28th to 31st May 2026, the award-winning four-day festival is drawing unprecedented interest worldwide — further fuelled by the announcement that Billy F Gibbons (ZZ Top) will headline the Festival Big Top with The BFG Band on Saturday 30th May 2026. All Festival Details - www.rorygallagherfestival.com
The Festival Big Top lineup is star-studded and deeply rooted in blues-rock heritage. Alongside Billy F Gibbons, audiences can look forward to:

Rory Gallagher’s Band of Friends featuring Rory’s bandmates Gerry McAvoy and Brendan O’Neill with Davy Knowles and David Cowan
Pat McManus Band with special guests from Horslips, Jim Lockhart and Barry Devlin — with Pat McManus (ex-Mama’s Boys) acclaimed as one of Ireland’s great blues-rock guitarists
Johnny Gallagher & The Boxty Band — local yet world-renowned, a cornerstone of the festival and the Irish blues scene
Nine Below Zero featuring Mark Feltham, the extraordinary harmonica player whose long tenure with Rory is legendary, joined by Dennis Greaves
The Zac Schulze Gang — one of the hottest young blues-rock live acts currently touring Europe
Heavy Duty — an Irish band steeped in the spirit of Rory Gallagher, fronted by guitarist Matt Hegarty
Moonchild — returning for a special reunion performance featuring Mark Langan, Seamus Langan, and Sean “Biscuits” Reynolds
Deuce — a Dublin band inspired by Rory and by Ballyshannon itself; a story of festival friendship that began when its members first met as young festivalgoers

These artists will perform across the Festival Big Top on 29th, 30th, and 31st May 2026 — and remarkably, this represents just some of the 2026 Festival Programme.

To open the 2026 Festival, there is the exciting Legacy Concert at the Rory Gallagher Theatre on Thursday 28th May 2026 featuring two of the leading young emerging Blues Rock Guitarists and their bands - Legacy "The Next Generation" featuring Taj Farrant & His Band and The Zac Schulze Gang in what will be an exciting and explosive start to the Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival 2026 in Ballyshannon - This Concert is limited to 280 guests and Advanced Tickets arfe Now on Sale - so early Booking very advisable - BOOK HERE

A Town Transformed by Music
The Festival unfolds across Ballyshannon’s streets, pubs, venues, and public spaces, delivering four days of free open-air gigs where the town comes alive to the sound of blues, rock, folk, and acoustic sessions. The atmosphere is relaxed, welcoming, and unmistakably Irish — something to be experienced to be believed
With 40 acts on 15 stages over 4 days, the festival has rightfully become a pilgrimage for Rory Gallagher fans and blues-rock enthusiasts from Ireland, the UK, Europe, the United States, and beyond

Festivalgoers journey through Ballyshannon not just for the music, but for the places that tell Rory’s story -

The life-size Rory Gallagher Bronze Statue
The Rock Hospital where Rory was born
The Rory Gallagher Mural in the town centre
Rory Gallagher Place, where Rory first lived
Plus the Festival Big Top, the Pubs of Ballyshannon that host free performances day and night

For fans of Rory Gallagher, blues music, guitar culture, and Irish musical heritage — Ballyshannon is a mecca, a celebration and a homecoming

Plan your Festival Experience - Full details on travel, accommodation, Big Top tickets, Festival Camping and the Latest Festival news are available on the official festival website --- www.rorygallagherfestival.com

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Rory Gallagher Festival 2026 set to be the Biggest in History

1/13/2026

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The 22nd Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival returns to Rory’s birthplace of Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland, from Thursday 28th May to Sunday 31st May 2026.

This is not just a music festival – it’s four days of non-stop gigs, tributes, and blues-soaked celebrations played across the streets, stages and venues of Ballyshannon. Every outdoor performance and Pub venue gig is free to view, creating an atmosphere that is relaxed, inclusive and pure in spirit – just like Rory’s music.
During Festival weekend, the town comes alive to the sound of guitars played by superb musicians from across Ireland, Europe, and beyond. The street gigs are truly special, with performances taking place at celebrated Rory Gallagher landmarks, the life-sized Rory Gallagher Statue, Rory Gallagher Place (the street where a young Rory lived), the Rock Hospital (where Rory was born), the Rory Gallagher Theatre, Allingham Park, the superb Rory Gallagher Mural, and The Gables - the natural amphitheatre at the heart of Ballyshannon.

Ask any regular attendee and they’ll tell you the same thing:
“Go once, experience Ballyshannon, and you’ll want to go back.”

2026 will be a meaningful year as fans from home and abroad gather to celebrate Rory’s enduring legacy and the music that continues to inspire generations. This Festival exists because of Rory, and for Rory — carried by a loyal worldwide fan base and a shared sense of community.

2026 - A Festival for the ages - The now iconic four-day celebration of Rory’s life and music continues to draw unprecedented international interest, further ignited by the news that Billy F Gibbons and The BFG Band will headline the Festival Big Top on Saturday 30th May 2026.The Festival is thrilled to welcome back Rory Gallagher’s Band of Friends featuring original Rory Gallagher band members Gerry McAvoy and Brendan O’Neill alongside Davy Knowles and David Cowan. This line-up remains one of the most authentic and heartfelt ways to experience Rory Gallagher’s music on stage.
Blues-rock fans can also look forward to electrifying Big Top performances from:

Pat McManus Band with very special guests Jim Lockhart & Barry Devlin of Horslips. Pat McManus (ex-Mama’s Boys) is widely regarded as one of Ireland’s finest blues-rock guitarists.
Johnny Gallagher & The Boxty Band – the local heroes with a global following and a permanent pillar of the Festival’s musical identity.
Nine Below Zero – led by the extraordinary harmonica master Mark Feltham, whose musical connection to Rory runs deep, joined by Dennis Greaves.
The Zac Schulze Gang – one of the brightest modern blues-rock acts touring Europe today. Raw, powerful, and unmissable.
Heavy Duty – local, spirited, and steeped in Rory’s influence, fronted by guitarist Matt Hegarty.
Moonchild – reuniting for a special set at the 2026 Festival featuring Mark Langan, Seamus Langan, and Sean “Biscuits” Reynolds.
Deuce – a Dublin band inspired by Rory’s legacy and a story that captures the true spirit of Ballyshannon. The members once met as young Festival attendees, formed a band, and now return to the Big Top stage.

And that’s only a quarter of what’s planned — literally. The Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival delivers over 40 acts on 15 stages across 4 unforgettable days, with much of the music performed free of charge throughout the town streets and local venues

Whether you’ve been every year or are planning your first pilgrimage, Ballyshannon welcomes you.
Come celebrate Rory, the blues, the rock, and the community that continues to keep the music alive

BOOK BIG TOP 2026

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Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival 2026 – A Landmark Year Ahead

Rory Gallagher Festival 2026 set to be the Biggest in History

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