The Family That Rocks Out Together

Roll up! Roll up! Pic: Anamaria Meiu

atest press release from The Kaleidoscope Festival, issued on Sunday, March 15th 2026…

Kaleidoscope presented by Glenveagh today announces its new wave of Irish artists for summer 2026, expanding its three‑day lineup with an exciting mix of festival favourites, breakthrough performers and rising young stars.

The Saw Doctors. Pic: Mark Ashe

Building on the momentum of headliners Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classics, Natasha Bedingfield and The Saw Doctors, the festival continues to evolve as Ireland’s largest summer family festival, returning to Russborough House from Friday July 3rd to Sunday July 5th.

This year’s July festival welcomes a genre-spanning lineup of homegrown talent, from chart‑topping Irish dance icon Mark McCabe, whose generation‑defining anthem “Maniac 2000” remains a guaranteed festival highlight, to beloved singer‑songwriter Mundy, whose crowd‑singalong favourites have soundtracked Irish summers for over three decades. Adding to the Saturday night energy, Dustin the Turkey will take to the decks for a special ‘beck‑to‑beck’ DJ set, warming up the main arena in the lead‑up to Pete Tong’s headline performance.

Joining them is Al Gibbs, the powerhouse DJ and long‑standing voice of Irish dance music, celebrated for sets that lift crowds of all ages, along with Zaska, whose explosive fusion of funk, soul and jazz has earned him a reputation for some of the most joyful live performances in Ireland. Also announced are Jerry Fish Electric Sideshow, Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones, Rebecca Creighton, Melina Malone, Zeztra, DELUSH, Negro Impacto, The Kilo 1977, Savage Hearts, Eimear & SUSO Choir, The Circus Ponies, DJ Graham Smyth, DJ Will Softly, and tribute favourites Oas1s, These Charming Men and The Year Grunge Broke.

A standout moment for this summer’s three day festival is the return of young festival stars DJ Calum and Hype Man Jack and Seanem, who made a remarkable impact last summer and now share the bill with global dance pioneer Pete Tong, a milestone moment in their emerging careers and a powerful reflection of the family festival’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of Irish talent.

Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classics live show, performed with a full 65‑piece orchestra, is set to be one of the most unmissable and energetic performances of the summer. The festival has expanded its main stage, creating a larger arena space designed to heighten the Saturday night experience for all festival-goers. With weekend and day tickets now on sale, the festival is encouraging families to secure their Saturday tickets early, with demand already soaring for Tong’s headline performance.

Kaleidoscope presented by Glenveagh is also expanding its community impact for 2026, offering free festival tickets to support local schools, community groups and sports clubs with their fundraising raffles. The initiative is designed to help families and grassroots organisations raise money at a time when community resources are under pressure. The festival is also proud to announce Dublin Simon Community as an official festival charity partner for 2026, supporting vital homelessness services through on‑site fundraising and awareness across the weekend. Any school, club or community group interested in taking part in the festival’s free‑ticket support programme is welcome to get in touch at [email protected].

Today’s announcement lands as recent domestic tourism insights show families continuing to reshape Ireland’s summer holiday landscape. Fáilte Ireland’s Domestic Tracker Summer Update 2025 highlights a clear shift in behaviour, with families booking earlier than ever and most planning their Irish summer breaks up to eight weeks in advance. Multi‑night domestic stays now dominate the season, and value‑driven decision‑making is on the rise as parents prioritise all‑in, activity‑rich experiences that offer convenience and predictable costs.

These findings are reinforced by Fáilte Ireland’s previous Travel Motivations Framework, which shows families over‑indexing on outdoor attractions and pre‑booked experiences that help manage budgets and guarantee availability. A 2025 Tourism Ireland survey also found that 68% of Irish people planned at least one holiday in Ireland last year, with festivals, immersive activities and nature‑led escapes topping the list of preferred choices.

Perfectly positioned to meet this demand for Irish staycations, Kaleidoscope presented by Glenveagh continues to grow as Ireland’s largest summer family festival. Located just 30 minutes from Dublin, the festival transforms Russborough House into a world of music, adventure and discovery, offering families a full weekend of entertainment across 15 vibrant festival areas. Every ticket includes access to world‑class live music, more than one hundred workshops, circus and theatre shows, science experiences, arts and crafts, baby and toddler play zones, sports, wellness and surprise performances for all ages.

Shell Holden, Director of Marketing at Kaleidoscope presented by Glenveagh, comments, “Families are booking earlier, seeking value and choosing experiences that feel like a holiday without the stress. An Irish resort weekend can cost over €1,200 and a domestic hotel stay nearly €1,000 for the same weekend as our festival, and that’s before you add activities or children’s entertainment. Kaleidoscope presented by Glenveagh gives families three days of music, camping, hands-on activities and a lifetime of memories for under €450 for a family of four, with over 100 family activities and legendary music acts included in the ticket price. This year we’re also proud to support local schools, clubs and community groups by providing free tickets for their fundraising raffles, and to welcome Dublin Simon Community as an official festival charity partner for 2026.”

The festival has also undergone a significant upgrade for 2026 following months of investment and development across the site. Families will experience improved facilities, enhanced comfort and smoother movement throughout the weekend. The expanded main stage anchors a series of improvements that include easier access for day‑ticket holders thanks to a new bus stop location closer to the festival entrance, a dedicated quieter family‑focused camp area, increased toilet facilities with dedicated attendants, as well as new Camp Kitchens equipped with barbeque zones and wash‑up stations in every campsite. The Kaleido‑Club Lounge in the main arena has been refreshed with even more seating, increased ‘luxury loos’ and an expanded bar, offering an elevated experience for families seeking a little extra comfort.

Commenting on today’s music lineup reveal, Holden continues “We’re incredibly proud to unveil this new wave of Irish artists, from Irish festival favourites like Mark McCabe and Mundy to the incredible young talent of DJ Calum and Seanem who will now share a billing with their icon Pete Tong. His Ibiza Classics show is one of the most exciting performances we’ve ever brought to Wicklow, and we can’t wait to see families dancing together under the summer sky.”

Running from Friday July 3rd to Sunday 5th, weekend and day tickets for The Kaleidoscope Festival are available here.

You can find out more about Kaleidoscope on July 3rd to 5th right here, and follow on Instagram here and Facebook here.