2026 Rockport Celtic Festival

By Irish Boston Tourism Newsroom

Rockport Celtic Festival Artistic Director Maeve Gilchrist (pictured below) has done it again. Each year the Scottish harpist gathers together an all-star cast of musicians, dancers and singers to convey the incredible musical journey of the Celtic nations. From Ireland, Scotland, British Isles, Galicia and Brittany to Quebec, the Maritime Provinces, New England and Appalachia, this immigrant trail has produced a wealth of music and tradition that is thrilling, inventive and diverse.

Rockport Celtic Festival on September 10-13 captures the music and culture of the Celtic nations in its essence. Every artist on this year’s roster is exceptional, and that is why audiences return year after year.

For fans of Irish traditional music, don’t miss local trio Copley Street with fiddler Nathan Gourley, uilleann piper Joey Abarta and bouzouki and guitarist Owen Marshall; Irish duo fiddler Oisín McAuley and accordionist Caoimhín Ó Fearghail; multi-instrumentalist Séamus Egan from Solas (pictured top); and flutist and vocalist Nuala Kennedy (pictured below) and guitarist Alan Murray.

Beloved pianist and vocalist Lindsay O’Donovan is also featured in the festival, which is a lasting tribute to her late husband Brian O’Donovan, radio host of A Celtic Sojourn.

Here is the line-up:

Maeve Gilchrist, artistic director & harp | The Louise Bichan Band | Logan Coale, bass | David Coffin, vocals | Copley Street | Seamus Egan, multi-instrumentalist | Edwin Huizinga & William Coulter (Fire & Grace) | Nuala Kennedy, vocals/flute | Oisín McAuley, fiddle | Alan Murray, guitar, bouzouki & vocals | Lindsay O’Donovan, piano/vocals | Caoimhín Ó Fearghail, uilleann pipes, glute, guitar, bouzouki, vocals | Sam Reider & The Human Hands | Madeleine Rogers, vocals | The Fretless | Trio Oko

rockportmusic.org