Clonmel’s Inaugural Plein Air

With the Suir Blueway running through it and built against the stunning backdrop of the Comeragh mountains, Clonmel awaits your discovery during our Plein Air on 4th and 5th July. Also within easy reach of the rich scenery and outstanding OPW sites in Carrick, Cahir and Cashel, we invite you to join us for Clonmel’s inaugural Plein Air. Come to Clonmel to paint and draw and enjoy the hospitality and cultural programme that the 2026 Clonmel Junction Arts Festival offers. Click here to find out more…

2025 Highlights

2026 Festival

Exchanges

Exploring Cultural Exchanges & Blended Cultures

Our festival theme for 2026 is ‘Exchanges’, exciting conversations about ourselves and our communities, exploring Cultural exchanges and blended cultures. Our brochure and full programme has now launched with tickets for events on sale.
Pick up our brochure at a wide selection of the cafés, shops or businesses in Clonmel and its environs as well as STAC, Clonmel Library, the Main Guard and the Museum of Hidden History. Tickets are on sale online now via the Tickets button in the top right hand corner of our website or at our Box Office in the Showgrounds Shopping Centre from 11am to 4pm Monday to Saturday.
Don’t forget to follow us on social media for information on our many events, artist videos, updates on our community development projects and other ways to be involved in the lead up to the festival (3rd to 12th July).
I would also just like to take a moment to express our sincere thanks to all our funders, sponsors and partners – the festival couldn’t happen without you. Many thanks also to our wonderful festival team, Board of Directors and volunteers – people make a festival and you certainly make the Clonmel Junction Arts Festival the special and vibrant festival that it is.
We look forward to celebrating our 2026 festival together and hope to see you at many more events during the festival from 3rd to 12th July.

Rebecca Lenehan
Artistic Director

Clonmel Junction Arts Festival, Clonmel, County Tipperary

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😂 Get ready to laugh until your sides hurt! 😂⁠ ⁠ The Clonmel Junction Arts Festival is bringing a serious dose of humour, wit, and high-energy fun to town.⁠ ⁠ This year's comedic talent will be swapping stories, trading quick-witted banter, and sharing plenty of smiles.⁠ ⁠ Whether you are looking for a lively night out with friends, a chance to brush up on your cúpla focal without the stress, or just want to catch some brilliant comedic energy, there is plenty on the schedule to keep you smiling all week long.⁠ ⁠ Book your tickets at www.junctionfestival.com⁠ ⁠ #ClonmelJunctionArtsFestival #CJAF2026 #ClonmelArts
The Young Curator’s Programme is kindly supported by the University of Limerick Art Collection. Young Curators Exhibition “2B or not 2B” Launch 📅 - Friday 3rd July 📍- Main Guard ⏰ - 5pm This exhibition draws from the art collection of the University of Limerick and is curated by a group of Transition Year students from Clonmel schools under the expert guidance of curator Catherine Marshall. Over a period of months in the lead up to the festival the students have acquainted themselves with a wide variety of paintings, sculptures and new media works from Ireland over the past 150 years with this exhibition forming their selection from the university’s fantastic collection. Exhibition opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 9am – 5pm (last admission 4:15pm) #artexhibitions #cjaf26 #clonmeljunctionfestival #clonmel #limerickuniversity
People of a certain vintage should get a wave of nostalgia when they see the nineties bedroom being recreated at the former GameStop shop in Mitchell St by the uber creative @derekharveycreative 🤌🏼🫟 We can’t wait to see the finished space🤩 This space will be just one of three locations being used as part of the Youth Council Performance Trail on Saturday 4th July.🎶🎸🎤🎧 Following mentoring from curators Chandrika Narayanan-Mohan and Eamon O’Malley, the Youth Council present their Performance Trail – a reflection of a young creative’s journey. 4pm-4.30pm and 4.45pm-5.15pm Stage 1: The Teenage Bedroom – The Beginning (Former GameStop, Mitchell Street) Performances by: Eve Whelan, a songwriter and vocal shapeshifter. Niamh O’Beirne, a multidisciplinary artist. 4pm-4.30pm and 4.45pm-5.15pm Stage 2: The Rehearsal Space – The Development (Place 4 U, Morton Street) Performances by: The O’Reillys, a Tipperary-based act playing traditional Irish instrumental tunes and songs in a classic session format. Favour Odusola, a Nigerian-Irish multidisciplinary artist and dance theatre performer with drummer Segun Akano. 5.30pm- 6.30pm Stage 3: The Big Performance – The Arrival (Abbey Street Car Park) Performances by: MDR are a five-piece indie-rock band from Cork and Tipperary. They toured nationally in early 2025, earning Hot Press coverage for their single Statue of Adam. Yankari Afrobeat, a relentless, high-energy force on stage. This high energy performance is guaranteed to get you dancing! This is a FREE event not to be missed! #cjaf26 #clonmeljunctionfestival #clonmelarts #livemusic #clonmel
🍿📽️ Grab your popcorn and get ready for the big screen! 📽️🍿⁠ ⁠ Clonmel Junction Arts Festival is bringing some incredible cinematic storytelling to town!⁠ ⁠ Our movie line-up celebrates connection, community, and fresh perspectives. The IMC Cinema on Kickham Street will be acting as the festival's film headquarters, hosting a fantastic mix of screenings that includes a premier showcase of brilliant student animation, deeply moving documentaries about local care and love, and a wonderful double-bill of short films followed by live Q&As with the filmmakers.⁠ ⁠ Book your tickets at www.JunctionFestival.com⁠ ⁠ #ClonmelJunctionArtsFestival #CJAF2026 #ClonmelArts
Clonmel Art Trail: Unconformities by Bridget O'Gorman - beginning by at South Tipp Arts Centre (STAC) 🫟 Unconformities is a series of text-based interventions throughout Clonmel by Bridget O'Gorman, an artist and writer working with text, live event, video and sculpture. The work describes a series of sculptural objects which were never made - each piece existing as a conjured presence, invites unexpected encounter outside of the traditional exhibition space. Kindly supported by @cultureireland #cjaf26 #clonmeljunctionartsfestival #arttrail #clonmelarts #tipperary #stac #southtipparts
A huge thank you to Glenpatrick Spring who will be keeping us all hydrated throughout this year’s festival 💦😄 #glenpatrickspring #cjaf26 #clonmeljunctionartsfestival
There’s something for absolutely EVERYONE at this years Clonmel Junction Arts Festival! 🎭 Check out our website for all the listings July 3rd-12th 📅 Link in Bio #cjaf26 #clonmeljunctionfestival #clonmelarts #tipperary #thearts
🎨🖼️ Feast your eyes on something spectacular! 🖼️🎨⁠ ⁠ Clonmel Junction Arts Festival's Visual Arts line-up is turning the entire town into a vibrant, living gallery.⁠ ⁠ Following the festival theme of 'Exchanges', artists are taking over local spaces, galleries, and street corners to showcase some truly incredible work. You can take a stroll along the Clonmel Art Trail, which features wonderful indoor and outdoor exhibitions, pop-up gallery installations in local shops, and thought-provoking community-led art projects.⁠ ⁠ There is a huge variety of styles to explore, from stunning street photography and youth-curated collections to illustrations, immersive sensory spaces, and unique text installations. Plus, don't miss the festival's inaugural Plein Air event over the first weekend, where you can watch artists painting live outdoors against the backdrop of the town and the Comeragh Mountains!⁠ ⁠ Book your tickets at www.JunctionFestival.com⁠ ⁠ #ClonmelJunctionArtsFestival #CJAF2026 #ClonmelArts
Go raibh míle maith agaibh to Shannon, Declan and the team at Rivesci for backing the festival year after year. We really appreciate all your support 💙💛 @rivescicoffeeshop @rivesci.ie #cjaf26 #clonmeljunctionfestival #festivalsupporters #clonmelarts #localbusiness
Curious about new sounds? Try the oud and double bass and learn how to groove in unusual time signatures with Stephen McGrath and Aury Livingstone of Sun Merchant. 📅 - Sunday, July 5 ⏰ - 2pm 📍- Baker’s Bar 🎟️ - General: €12 🎟️ -Concession: €10 Booking through the our website- link in bio🎶 #oud #doublebass #workshop #cjaf26 #clonmeljunctionfestival
💬Get ready to get talking!💬⁠ ⁠ Clonmel Junction Arts Festival is hosting a fantastic lineup of Talks and Q&As this July.⁠ ⁠ Whether you want to dive into panel discussions about community, explore local history, meet some of our amazing featured artists, or enjoy lively literary chats, there's a space for everyone to share ideas and inspiration.⁠ ⁠ Pop in, listen to some wonderful stories, and join the conversation!⁠ ⁠ Book your tickets at www.JunctionFestival.com⁠ ⁠ #ClonmelJunctionArtsFestival #CJAF2026 #ClonmelArts
Check out the window painting to celebrate Ireland’s EU Presidency - created by our very talented TUS work experience student Tracy Lee Dela Cuesta - which EU country is it? The song might give the game away 👀 #winderart #cjaf26 #clonmeljunctionfestival #rivesci
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