Carlow Arts Festival is back this June, offering a range of cultural events from June 9 to 12. Taking place at Carlow College and various locations across Carlow town, the programme boasts a diverse list of music, circus, dance, theatre, visual arts, street art and more, so there’s something for everyone.

The weekend will present international shows and premiers, plus many free family-friendly events. On Saturday, the first Carlow Carnival of Collective Joy will parade through town, created by children and young people. Theatre shows and dance battles make the festival’s programme exciting for families.

Announcing the programme, the festival’s Artistic Director & CEO Benjamin Perchet comments, “We hope that the festival will be a powerful celebration of community and that it demonstrates our commitment to social inclusion and diversity in the arts.”

Irish artists such as Sinéad Cormack will debut their innovative new work, with Cormack’s The Shed providing an enveloping theatrical performance made for one audience member at a time. International creatives from Chiara Bersani to French visual artists Clédat & Petitpierre will also debut their diverse, forward-thinking work.

You can expect to dance into the night to Carlow’s own Ye Vagabonds and at club Bounce, an inclusive nightclub. Other musical performances range from Jerry Fish, Shanne Hennessy and more.

The Carlow Arts Festival takes place on June 9-12. Book your tickets now via their website and check out their full programme.