A New Christmas Festival Bringing Something for Everyone This Festive Season

Carlow County Council is delighted to announce the launch of Jinglefest 2026, an exciting new county-wide Christmas programme that will bring festive fun, family experiences, live entertainment and laughter to communities across Carlow this holiday season.

Jinglefest represents a fresh and ambitious celebration of Christmas in County Carlow, featuring three distinct programme strands designed to ensure there is truly something for everyone. Running from late November through December, Jinglefest will combine a spectacular town centre celebration, family-focused festive experiences, and a unique countywide comedy festival featuring some of Ireland's best-known comedians and performers.

Three Festivals in One

At the heart of the programme is Jinglefest Live, a major free public event taking place on Saturday, 28 November at Carlow Town Hall Car Park. The event will feature chart-topping tribute acts ‘Smash Hits’ and ‘Turf Raves’, Santa's arrival to Carlow, festive market stalls, the official switching on of Carlow's Christmas lights and a spectacular ‘Fireworks on the Barrow’ display, creating an unforgettable start to the festive season.

The second strand, Jinglefest Fringe, focuses on family-friendly festive experiences across the county. Highlights include the popular Santa Bus visiting Tullow and Bagenalstown, Santa at Carlow Library, Santa's visits to local town centres and a range of festive library events designed to create magical Christmas memories for families and young children. The full programme of Jinglefest Fringe be announced during November 2026.

Completing the programme is Jinglefest Comedy, a unique comedy festival featuring 16 shows across multiple venues throughout the county. The line-up includes household names such as Ardal O'Hanlon, Karl Spain, John Colleary, Sharon Mannion, Anna Clifford, Colm O'Regan, along with a diverse range of comedy, improvisation and entertainment events taking place in Carlow Town, Tullow, Bagenalstown and beyond.

Welcoming the launch of the new festival, Cllr. Tommy Kinsella, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council, said "Christmas is a special time of year when families, friends and communities come together, and Jinglefest has been designed to capture that spirit. This exciting new programme offers something for every age group and every interest, from family entertainment and festive traditions to live music, comedy and community celebrations. I am particularly delighted to see events taking place across the county, ensuring that people in our towns and villages can all be part of the festive experience. I would encourage everyone to come along, support the events and help make Jinglefest a wonderful new Christmas tradition for County Carlow."

 Kieran Comerford, Head of Economic Development & Enterprise with Carlow County Council, said: "Jinglefest is about much more than entertainment. It is about creating a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere across County Carlow during one of the most important trading periods of the year. By combining large-scale public events, family experiences and a countywide comedy programme, we are creating reasons for people to visit our towns, stay longer, support local businesses and enjoy everything Carlow has to offer. Jinglefest reflects our ambition to create high-quality events that enhance quality of life, support economic activity and position Carlow as a destination for festivals and experiences throughout the year."

Key Highlights Include:

• Jinglefest Live featuring Smash Hits, Turf Raves, Santa, stalls, fireworks and the Christmas Lights Switch-On.
• Santa Bus Experiences in Bagenalstown and Tullow.
• Santa at the Library family events.
• 16 comedy  and music performances across a wide range of venues.
• Appearances by leading Irish comedians including Ardal O'Hanlon, Karl Spain, John Colleary, Sharon Mannion, Anna Clifford and Colm O'Regan.
• Activities taking place across Carlow Town, Tullow and Bagenalstown.
• Family-friendly events, community celebrations and festive entertainment throughout the season.

Many Jinglefest events are free to attend, while others require advance booking. Full programme details and booking information are available through the official Jinglefest Eventbrite pages.

As Christmas approaches, Jinglefest promises to fill County Carlow with festive cheer, community spirit, laughter and celebration, creating magical experiences for residents and visitors alike.

Programme

Jinglefest Fringe Full Programme to be announced on 20th November 2026