The Doneraile Arts Festival and Plein Air 2026 will return this summer for a four-day programme of workshops, exhibitions, talks and outdoor painting events, running from Thursday 25 June to Sunday 28 June across Doneraile and surrounding North Cork locations.
Organised by Art for the Heart Doneraile, the not-for-profit group behind the festival, the event continues to grow as a major cultural showcase for visual arts, creative writing and plein air painting in the region.
Across the four days, participants and visitors will take part in an extensive programme of workshops and events hosted in venues including Doneraile Park, Doneraile Court, Annes Grove Gardens, Nano Nagle Birthplace, and local village locations.
The opening day on Thursday 25 June features a series of creative workshops in Doneraile Park, including felting, printmaking and flash fiction writing, all held in the park marquee near the tearooms.
Friday 26 June expands the programme across multiple sites, with willow weaving workshops, botanical plaster art, meditation and découpage, and a plein air painting workshop at Nano Nagle Birthplace along the N72 between Mallow and Fermoy. The evening programme includes a talk on author Molly Keane, Playback Theatre, and live music at Eily’s Bar in Doneraile.
Saturday 27 June focuses on competitive plein air painting, with the Annes Grove Plein Air Competition taking place in Castletownroche, alongside additional workshops, artist demonstrations and a public interview with Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Cathal McNaughton, in conversation with journalist Ralph Riegel at Doneraile Court.
The day concludes with relaxed evening events including “Paint and a Pint” at The Glenanaar Bar, offering an informal creative space for participants and visitors.
Sunday 28 June brings the festival to a close with the Doneraile Park Plein Air Competition and Junior Plein Air Competition, African drumming workshops for adults and children, a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party tableau, and a closing ceremony and awards event featuring live music by Ceoltóirí Clárach in front of Doneraile Court.
The festival also highlights the wider North Cork landscape as a living canvas for artists, with locations such as Mallow Castle, Bridgetown Priory, Ballybeg Priory, and the Ballyhoura Mountains all promoted as part of the plein air experience.
Organisers say the festival continues to celebrate both established and emerging artists while encouraging participation across all ages and skill levels, combining structured workshops with open-air creativity in some of the region’s most scenic locations.
Tickets and full programme details are available via Eventbrite and the official festival schedule:
https://www.eventbrite.ie/o/art-for-the-heart-doneraile-62526844393
https://doneraileartsfest.com/schedule