Galway International Arts Festival 2025 Launches Its Most Ambitious Line-Up Yet

Running from the 14th to the 27th of July 2025, the festival promises two unforgettable weeks of theatre, music, spectacle, ideas, and imagination spread across the city and beyond.

This year’s launch reveals a dazzling array of world premieres, bold commissions, and global collaborations, signalling a cultural celebration of truly epic proportions. From the hypnotic heights of circus arts to provocative debates and stirring music, GIAF 2025 invites locals and visitors alike to immerse themselves in a city transformed.

As GIAF Chief Executive John Crumlish puts it, “This year we wanted to present one large two-week celebration of the imagination. At a time when there are so many challenges in the world, we wanted Galway in July to be about great ideas, talent and skill. We hope people are attracted by that and can join us for what will be a great two weeks.”

Highlights Include:

• NoFit State Circus makes a triumphant return with Sabotage, a gravity-defying performance under the Big Top at Nimmo’s Pier.
• Druid Theatre marks 50 years with a compelling double-bill: Macbeth and Riders to the Sea, directed by the formidable Garry Hynes.
• David Mach, one of the UK’s most celebrated visual artists, presents Burning Down the House, a new large-scale installation at the Festival Gallery.
• Mikel Murfi performs Oh …, his latest solo work, staged underwater in the main tank of Galway Atlantaquaria – a unique theatrical dive into the imagination.
• A fresh operatic odyssey Mars by Jennifer Walshe and Irish National Opera, blending space travel, satire and sound.
• Acclaimed Irish writer Kevin Barry delivers black comedy The Cave, with Tommy Tiernan returning to the Galway stage.
• A timely and thought-provoking First Thought Talks series, featuring voices such as Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, Fintan O’Toole, and Eman Mohammed, engaging with everything from geopolitics to healthcare.

Elsewhere, prepare for giant insects roaming city streets in Microcosmos by French company Planet Vapeur, and silent disco walking tours from Guru Dudu to keep the atmosphere charged.

Music Across the City

The Heineken® Big Top at Fisheries Field will once again be the heart of Galway’s summer soundtrack. The 2025 line-up includes:

• Mogwai
• Amble
• Kingfishr
• Sophie Ellis-Bextor
• Natasha Bedingfield
• A 40th anniversary show for Galway’s own Mary Coughlan
• And a rare treat: Mari Samuelsen performing with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra

Smaller venues like Róisín Dubh and Monroe’s Live will pulse with acts ranging from Richard Thompson and The Magic Numbers to emerging voices like BIIRD and Soda Blonde.

Visual Wonders

This year’s visual arts programme takes a deep dive into ecological themes and the climate crisis. Alongside Mach’s centrepiece installation, exhibitions such as Funeral for Ashes and Not Breaking – This Wave Drowns Hate confront issues like biodiversity loss and ocean pollution.

Festival-goers can also explore new works from Erin Lawlor, Darran McGlynn, and an evocative photo essay on Gaza by Eman Mohammed.

A Festival for Everyone

The Festival Garden returns to Eyre Square as a vibrant hub for food, drink, and conversation, offering a space for both relaxation and connection while enjoying the occasional set from DJs and artists.

The festival continues its commitment to accessibility, sustainability, and diverse storytelling, providing a platform for voices from all walks of life.

Booking Info

Tickets go on sale from 10am, Friday 9 May at giaf.ie, with in-person booking opening on Wednesday 25 June at the Festival Box Office, 31 Eyre Square.