Púca Festival Unveils New Experiences for 2026 as Countdown Begins at the Hill of Ward
Púca Festival has unveiled a host of new experiences for 2026, including daytime workshops in the Púca Big Top for the first time, a new Halloween Drag Brunch with Davina Devine and the festival’s biggest-ever Harvest Market, as the countdown began at the Hill of Ward in Athboy.
Returning to Trim and Athboy from Thursday, 29th October to Sunday, 1st November, Púca Festival will bring together four days and nights of music, comedy, folklore, spectacle and hands-on experiences rooted in the traditions of Samhain.
Developed by Fáilte Ireland in partnership with Meath County Council, Púca Festival celebrates Ireland as the birthplace of Halloween through a vibrant and contemporary festival experience rooted in the ancient customs of Samhain.
On Monday, 5th October, local partners and stakeholders gathered at the Hill of Ward to mark the countdown to this year’s festival. The Guardian of the Veil, Tlachtga and Cú-Sidhe brought the characters and folklore at the heart of Púca to life at the ancient site.
Also known as Tlachtga, the Hill of Ward has longstanding associations with Samhain and ancient seasonal gatherings. This year’s “Between Worlds” theme draws on a time when the boundaries between light and dark, past and present, and the living and spirit worlds were believed to blur. The site will again take centre stage when the Lighting of the Samhain Fire brings visitors together in Athboy.
For the first time, the Púca Big Top will host workshops during the day. The programme includes Mummer Mask Making with the Fingal Mummers, where participants can learn about traditional Samhain disguises and make their own straw creation. The Big Top will also host the Trim Autism Friendly Town (TAFT) Accessibility Disco, creating an inclusive daytime experience for festivalgoers.
Elsewhere in Athboy, Genealogy Workshops with members of Accredited Genealogists Ireland will offer guidance to people exploring their family history.
Also new for 2026, Davina Devine returns to Púca with a Halloween Drag Brunch at Trim Castle Hotel on Saturday, 31st October, featuring drag performances, brunch and cocktails.
At Trim’s Porchfields, the festival’s biggest-ever Harvest Market will bring together local produce, crafts and artisan goods. Visitors can see demonstrations of woodwork, willow weaving and blacksmithing, and take part in Púca Ogham Carving with Mícheál Potterton of Fiach Rua Timbercraft, Súgán Chair Making with Eoin Reardan and traditional Butter Making with Max Jones of Up There At Last.
In Athboy, the Lighting of the Samhain Fire will celebrate the town’s ancient traditions. At the Living History Village on the Fairgreen, costumed demonstrators will present traditional crafts and skills alongside games, battle demonstrations and the Ancestral Garden. Visitors can also explore the traditions and stories of Samhain with Deirdre Wadding.
The wider programme includes the Púca Procession in Trim, Beyond the Veil: The Púca Trail, Samhain Circus, Craicly Stories, guided foraging tours, Heritage Tours of Tlachtga and the Tree Mythology, Ogham & Woodturning Experience.
At the Púca Big Top in Trim, The Stunning, Sharon Shannon Big Band & Mundy with support from Fin Furey will perform on Thursday, 29th October. The sold-out Coronas show, with support from Róisín O, follows on Friday, 30th October. The Whistlin’ Donkeys, High Stool Prophets, Mark McCabe and special guest Janet Devlin will perform on Saturday, 31st October, while The Waterboys will headline the closing night on Sunday, 1st November.
The wider music line-up includes Hothouse Flowers, Jerry Fish and Qween with the Dublin Gospel Choir, with comedy from John Colleary, Enya Martin and Shane Daniel Byrne.
Speaking at the local launch, Azeta Seery, Festival and Events Manager, Fáilte Ireland said:
“Púca Festival is a flagship Halloween festival which plays a central role in celebrating Ireland as the Home of Halloween. Festivals like Púca are important in attracting both domestic and international visitors to County Meath, supporting the regional spread of tourism and helping to extend the tourism season. The festival hubs in Trim and Athboy provide visitors with an opportunity to experience the area's rich heritage and culture while enjoying a vibrant programme of contemporary Irish music, entertainment and storytelling."
"Working in partnership with Meath County Council and local tourism businesses, we look forward to welcoming visitors from Ireland and overseas and encouraging them to spend more time exploring Meath and Ireland's Ancient East.”
Kieran Kehoe, Chief Executive, Meath County Council commented: “Launching this year’s festival at the Hill of Ward is a powerful reminder of the history that makes Púca so closely connected to Meath. The festival not only brings people into our towns but also creates opportunities for local businesses, artists, and communities to showcase what Meath has to offer."
“We are proud to support a programme that celebrates that heritage while giving audiences something fresh to experience, and we look forward to welcoming visitors to Trim and Athboy this Halloween.”
Martin Nolan, Púca Festival Director and Founder of MPI Artists, added:
“The Hill of Ward is a fitting place to mark the countdown to Púca, drawing on the mystery and imagination at the heart of Samhain. It was also important to mark the occasion alongside the local partners and stakeholders who help bring Púca to life each year.
This year’s programme brings major live shows together with intimate storytelling, hands-on workshops and encounters with the characters of Irish folklore, creating an experience that connects the contemporary festival with the ancient traditions of Samhain.”
Púca Festival will continue its partnership with Nua Healthcare Services for a second year, providing dedicated accessibility and wellbeing support at Trim Harvest Market through a Mobile Sensory Unit, CLaD Hub and marquee quiet area. Building on last year’s successful initiative, these welcoming, quiet spaces will provide sensory supports and a peaceful environment for festivalgoers who may feel overwhelmed, allowing visitors to relax, recharge and enjoy the festival at their own pace.
The festival is also strengthening its sustainability programme across energy, waste, plastics reduction, transport, supply chain, accessibility, and biodiversity. Púca is EarthCheck certified and aligned with ISO 20121, the international standard for sustainable event management. This year it is supporting Trim’s community-led reusable coffee cup scheme and partnering again with Meath Camogie on “Your Plastic, Our Pitch”, with proceeds from returned bottles and cans supporting the development of camogie in County Meath.
Púca Festival is supported by Meath County Council and Nua Healthcare Services, with Heineken sponsoring the Púca Big Top.
For the full festival programme, ticket information and the latest updates, visit www.pucafestival.com and follow Púca Festival across social media.
Púca Festival is subject to licence.
Slán go fóill.
