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:
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.
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
Come celebrate Rory, the blues, the rock, and the community that continues to keep the music alive
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