This weekend, the west of Ireland becomes the centre of the kayaking world as GalwayFest, now one of the largest kayaking festivals on the international calendar, returns for its 13th year, running from the 6th to the 8th of March.
What started as pub chat between friends has grown into Europe's largest grassroots paddling festival, and 2026 promises to be its biggest edition yet. Over 200 paddlers make the annual pilgrimage to the west coast of Ireland to take part in one of the biggest whitewater events of the year, a beautiful mixture of freestyle, time trial racing, team racing, and boater X, not to mention some serious partying.
The action is spread across three spectacular locations over three days. Friday's freestyle event kicks off in Tuam, where Irish and international kayakers put down some of the biggest freestyle rides at one of Europe's top freestyle kayaking spots, under floodlights. Saturday moves to the Boluisce River in the coastal town of An Spidéal, where kayakers speed downriver through rapids. Sunday brings everything back into the heart of Galway city, with the Mass Slalom and 8-Ball Start race on the River Corrib.
This year, the organisers are pushing for a more inclusive event.
Off the water, expect live music, laughs, and that unbeatable Galway energy that has turned this grassroots gathering into an international highlight.
GalwayFest is more than a competition. It's a celebration, a gathering of community, and a love letter to the sport and the people behind paddling. As the organisers put it: "Bring your A game for the party and be ready for a weekend at one of the best kayaking events in the world, in sometimes sunny Ireland."
For more information, visit galwayfest.com.