Star-studded lineup for Night and Day Festival in Boyle
The Saw Doctors will play at the Night & Day Festival on Saturday. Pic: Eddie O'Hare
Night and Day Festival brings a stellar, star-studded lineup to Lough Key Forest Park, Boyle from today, Friday, May 29th until Sunday, May 31st.
This year’s line-up features a mix of legendary international icons and Ireland's finest talent across four musical stages, cementing the festival's reputation as a cornerstone of the Irish cultural calendar.
Galway legends the Saw Doctors will make their way down the N17 to headline the Queen Medb stage on Saturday night, bringing their trademark, high-energy, unforgettable performance to North Roscommon. Joining them on the billing are rock royalty Bob Geldof and the Boomtown Rats, the incomparable Imelda May, and the triumphant return of Hothouse Flowers, following their spellbinding performance at the festival in 2023.
One of Ireland’s most beloved singer-songwriters, Paddy Casey, will also take to the Queen Medb stage, bringing his distinctive voice and heartfelt lyrics to the festival crowd. In a major coup for guitar enthusiasts, celebrated English singer-songwriter Richard Thompson—voted one of Rolling Stone’s Top 100 Guitarists of All Time and frequently called the finest rock songwriter after Bob Dylan and electric guitarist after Jimi Hendrix—will bring his world-class guitar work and poetic songwriting to the shores of Lough Key.
Following its viral debut last year, which amassed over 500,000 views online, the spectacular Sol Stage returns inside the 150ft high Moylurg Tower.
RTÉ 2FM radio presenter and one of Ireland’s most prominent DJs, Jenny Greene, will headline Friday night on the Sol Stage. Festivalgoers will experience a unique atmospheric journey as artists make their way through old servant tunnels leading to the Sunken Gardens, before performing from a DJ booth perched high in the sky. Visual artist Sergey Khadjava is set to wow audiences once again, illuminating the historic 1973 tower with hypnotic light displays pulsating to electronic beats.
Night and Day 2026 is a celebration of community, heritage, and the regional culture of the Hidden Heartlands and Boyle.
The Úna Bhán Stage will showcase an incredible selection of performers from Roscommon, Leitrim, and Sligo, including the Carolan Collective, Creatives Roscommon Collective which is bringing the Creative Mic Night to the Una Ban stage, Michael Banahan Louise Killen, Donal O’Connor, Dots O’Connor, and many more.
A diverse billing of established and rising talent will also perform across the Luna and Electric Caves stages, including Thumper, M(h)aol, Sexy Tadgh, The Complete Stone Roses, George Houston, Cronin, Seamie O’Dowd, These Charming Men, BabyRat, The Dark Well, David Geraghty (of Bell X1), Steve Howard, James Biggins, Bannered Mare, Deirdre Cunningham, Mayfield Sound, Banbha, and MacHenry and the Dog Roses.
Festival Director Brendan Hurley said: "We’re absolutely thrilled to kick off our 2026 line-up with such an incredible group of artists. Aside from the more recognisable names, one of the real highlights of Night and Day is the chance to discover hidden gems performing on our Luna and Electric Caves stages."
Co-founder Craig Hughes added that they were excited to showcase the unique Sol Stage after its successful debut last year. “We were blown away by the reaction, and now those who weren’t fortunate enough to attend can see the stunning visual masterpiece and performances,” he said.
CEO of Roscommon County Council Shane Tiernan added that the festival “has become a cornerstone of our cultural calendar, bringing together music, community, and creativity in a way that showcases the very best of our county. Its return reflects the strong partnership between local organisers, artists, and the wider community, and we look forward to welcoming top music acts to Roscommon again next year."
General manager of Lough Key Forest & Activity Park Dermot Beggan noted the “huge pride locally in what Lough Key represents. This festival allows us to showcase our landscape, our history, and our community spirit to a wider audience. Alongside major Irish acts, the festival supports local artists, businesses and tourism providers, ensuring that the economic and cultural benefits are felt throughout Boyle and the wider Hidden Heartlands."
Vast crowds are expected to visit the North Roscommon area, with as many as 5,000 music enthusiasts expected to converge over the June Bank Holiday weekend. Uniquely the festival can be accessed by boat, as well as through frequent shuttle bus and rail services from Boyle and Carrick-on-Shannon.
Tourism officer with Roscommon County Council Lisa Joy said the festival showcased the best of what the county had to offer visitors, complementing the many other offerings for those who are curious about the county.
“While visiting Roscommon we invite concert goers to visit some of the many other attractions our county has to offer such as Boyle Abbey, King House, Strokestown Park House, the Rathcroghan Visitor Centre and many other attractions.”
•Tickets on sale at nightandday.ie
