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:
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
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 that must 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
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 that must 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
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
RSS Feed