North Texas Irish Festival at Fair Park

The North Texas Irish Festival returns to Dallas’ historic Fair Park March 6–8, 2026, bringing three days of live Celtic music, Irish dance, cultural demonstrations, food, shopping and interactive experiences to the North Texas region as one of the largest Irish festivals in the U.S.

Produced by the all-volunteer Southwest Celtic Music Association, the North Texas Irish Festival celebrates Irish and Celtic heritage with world-class performers, immersive cultural experiences and activities for all ages. See the full schedule here and festival map here.

Fun for Kids and Families
The North Texas Irish Festival is designed for all generations, with a dedicated children’s area and family programming throughout the weekend.

• Kids and families can enjoy:
• Urchin Street kids’ activities and crafts
• Storytelling by traditional Irish “Shanachie” (storytellers)
• Music and dance demonstrations
• Interactive cultural exhibits
• Magic and family entertainment
• Educational activities celebrating Celtic history and traditions
• Animal rescue groups and education

Leashed pets are welcome, and animal rescue organizations will be onsite with adoptable pets.

No Coupons Needed for Food and Beverages
In a major convenience upgrade, no food and beverage coupons are required for purchases inside the festival in 2026. Guests can buy food and beverages directly at refreshment booths using credit and debit cards, eliminating ticket lines and making it easier to enjoy the festival all weekend long. In addition, vendors at the festival selling all sorts of goods, from stylish Celtic wardrobe to handmade jewelry, photography and other art, also accept cash, in addition to credit/debit.

Live Music on Multiple Stages
The magic of the Emerald Isle is perhaps best enjoyed through the acclaimed musicians invited to perform at the North Texas Irish Festival. This year’s line-up is a celebration of talent from Texas and the entire Southwest region. Performing in 2026 are:

• BEHAN
• Beyond The Pale
• Boxing Robin
• C. Michael Price
• Celtic Standard Time
• Emerald Accent
• Jiggernaut
• Kathryn & Rusty Powell
• Keltik Clan
• Kinfolk
• Linda King
• Mark Clavey
• Misspent Youth
• Misty Posey
• North Texas Caledonian Pipes and Drums
• North Texas Celtic Strings
• Plunk Murray
• Rathmore
• Reel Treble & Friends
• River Driver
• Skeleton McKee
• Slugger’s Rule
• Sombati
• The Canterberries
• The Whalers
• Threadneedle St.
• Three for the Road
• TriFidlan
• Vulcan Eejits
• Waxie Dargles
• Wolf Loescher and the Growlers
• …and many more artists performing across multiple indoor and outdoor stages throughout Fair Park.

Attendees can enjoy traditional Irish folk, contemporary Celtic fusion, storytelling and instrumental sessions throughout the weekend.

Whiskey Master Class
Always wanted to explore the finer points of whiskey? Join whiskey expert Marius Donnelly for a guided tasting journey through the Emerald Isle—one sip at a time. This special ticketed experience takes place inside the North Texas Irish Festival, with tickets available for purchase on site.

Pro tip: A traditional Irish toast is “Sláinte” (pronounced slawn-cha), meaning “health” in Irish and Scottish Gaelic—perfect for raising a glass in Ireland, Scotland or the Isle of Man.

Irish Dance, Horses, and Sheepherding Demonstrations
The rhythmic magic of Irish step dancing comes alive with performances by top regional Irish dance schools on a dedicated dance stage, as well as alongside musical performers.

Festival-goers can also experience horse displays and live sheepherding demonstrations, offering a rare look at traditional Celtic livestock practices and heritage skills in action.

And don’t miss the Gaelic Athletic Association, which will be performing demonstrations of Gaelic football all weekend. Haven’t seen it before? Gaelic football is a fast-paced, high-scoring Irish team sport (15 per side) that combines elements of soccer, rugby and basketball, played on a grass pitch with H-shaped goals.

North Texas Irish Festival Fun Run
The morning of Saturday, March 7, kicks off with the North Texas Irish Festival Fun Run, a non-competitive 5K walk/run through the beautiful grounds of Fair Park. Open to runners and walkers of all ages and abilities (and dog-friendly!), participants receive a commemorative T-shirt, medal, festival admission, and post-race refreshments. Proceeds benefit Friends of Fair Park and the Southwest Celtic Music Association. More information and a link to registration are available at www.ntif.org/fun-run/.

Download the Free North Texas Irish Festival App
Festival-goers are encouraged to download the free North Texas Irish Festival app via Grandstand, which includes performer schedules, stage locations, Festival maps, parking and transportation info and real-time updates and alerts.

The app is a handy tool for planning your day and never missing a favorite band.

Hours
The North Texas Irish Festival is Friday, March 6 – Sunday, March 8, 2026. Download the free North Texas Irish Festival app to access the full event schedule. https://www.ntif.org/ntif-app/

• Friday, March 6: 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
• Saturday, March 7: 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
• Sunday, March 8: 11:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Tickets
Admission is FREE on Friday from 6 to 7 p.m.; $20 after 7 p.m. for adults.  A one-day ticket for adults is $30 on Saturday or Sunday and tickets for children aged 6-11 is $10 on any day. Tickets for children under 6 are free when accompanied by an adult family member. Seniors over 65 or current military members (with valid military ID) receive $5 off tickets at the gate. Pets are allowed in on a short leash. Visit NTIF.org for information on weekend passes for adults and children. General admission and VIP passes available at NTIF.org. Tickets will also be available at the gates.

Parking
Parking is available at Fair Park, or guests can ride DART (take the Green Line) to the front entrance of Fair Park and the North Texas Irish Festival. Detailed directions and parking tips are available at ntif.org.

Find more family fun events every day of the week at dfwchild.com/calendar.