Cong Food Village Festival returns for another year
The festival will take place on July 11 and 12, 2026, at Cong Abbey and its surrounding grounds.
The Cong Food Village Festival has officially launched its programme for 2026, with organisers outlining a schedule of food, cultural, and family-focused events planned for July.
The programme was unveiled on June 12 at Lydon's Lodge Hotel in Cong, where more than 140 guests attended the launch event.
Festival ambassador and chef Sarah Butler formally launched the event. Butler, who has supported the festival in recent years, is among several high-profile culinary figures scheduled to participate in this year's programme.
The festival will take place on July 11 and 12, 2026, at Cong Abbey and its surrounding grounds.
Organisers said more than 50 food and craft producers will exhibit at the festival, with two demonstration kitchens hosting live cooking sessions throughout the weekend.
Featured chefs include Sarah Butler, RTÉ chef Jeeny Maltese, restaurateur and author JP McMahon, Jonathan Keane, Executive Head Chef at The Lodge at Ashford Castle, and Liam Finnegan, Executive Head Chef at Ashford Castle.
In addition to its food programme, the festival will offer a range of activities aimed at families and visitors of all ages. These include drumming workshops with Drumadore, animal experiences at Lislinn Miniature Farm, craft workshops with Fuinnseog Woodland Crafts, and guided nature walks led by Go Wild Forest School.
Two new attractions have been introduced for 2026. Pobal Beag will host talks and workshops focused on gardening, sustainability, food production, and storytelling, including a session with gardening expert Padraic Horkan. The Abbey Sessions Music Quarter will provide live entertainment throughout the weekend, featuring performances by local musicians Mark Spellman, Stephen Monaghan, and Friends, as well as emerging local artists.
The festival is supported by its principal funding partners, Fáilte Ireland and Mayo County Council, with additional sponsorship from Ashford Castle Estate and local businesses in the Cong area.
Mairéad Geehan, Project Manager of Cong Food Village, said the festival's 2026 programme brings together a line-up of chefs, producers, workshops, and entertainment.
"This event is a true celebration of local spirit, and we are deeply grateful to the Cong business community for their continued support. The festival simply would not be possible without their generosity.
“We would also like to sincerely thank our principal sponsors, Fáilte Ireland and Mayo County Council, along with our supporting sponsor and long-term partner, Ashford Castle Estate,” she concluded.