Spain’s Only Irish Fleadh Launched in Dublin

Spain’s only Fleadh, hosted in Cáceres, cements its international profile by strengthening institutional and cultural ties between Spain and Ireland…

The event will take place from 17 to 20 September 2026, once again turning Cáceres into the capital of traditional Irish music

The Embassy of Spain in Ireland was the chosen venue for the official launch of the 2026 Cáceres Irish Fleadh International Festival. The event served to consolidate the excellent institutional relations between both countries and highlight the deep roots of this festival, which has become a unique cultural benchmark on the Iberian Peninsula.

The launch event was backed by the Ambassador of Spain to Ireland, Teresa Lizaranzu, who acted as host and highlighted the vital role the festival plays as a cultural and tourism bridge between Spain and Ireland. Also speaking at the event were Patricia Bravo, director of the Cáceres Irish Fleadh 2026; Peter Crann, Irish advisor to the event for over 10 years, who highlighted the importance of this festival for Irish musicians; and Fernanda Valdés, who founded the festival 22 years ago.

The gathering was attended by a prominent delegation of over thirty musicians and dancers from various parts of Ireland, who brought the distinctive sound and rhythm of the festival, alongside key figures in international relations between Spain and Ireland.

An Established Track Record and High Hopes for September
During the speeches, the successful track record of the Cáceres Irish Fleadh was reviewed—a festival that has managed to perfectly blend the historic heritage of the Extremaduran city (a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site) with the purest folk music of the Emerald Isle.

The organisers took the opportunity to outline the main highlights of this year’s programme, which will run from the 17th to the 20th September 2026. This new edition adds an extra day to the schedule, Thursday the 17th, and will once again flood the squares, partner pubs, and iconic spaces of Cáceres with top-tier concerts, workshops, sessions, and traditional Irish dance showcases.

The launch in Dublin marks the start of the countdown to one of Europe’s most highly anticipated cultural dates, which this year promises to exceed all attendance expectations and tighten, even further if possible, the bond between Irish culture and the Spanish public.
Partnerships with the Belfast TradFest

Furthermore, during the Cáceres Fleadh organisation’s stay in Ireland, they will attend the official launch of the 2026 edition of the Belfast TradFest, taking place in Northern Ireland. Musician and festival organiser Dónal O’Connor also attended the official launch of the Cáceres Irish Fleadh. These meetings enable cultural and tourism exchanges and strengthen the bonds between Spain and Ireland through music.

For more information: