Excitement building as popular festival gets underway in Waterford city today

Excitement is building as a popular festival gets underway in Waterford city today.

The Waterford Walls Festival 2026 kicks off today, bringing ten days of spectacular street art, live events, workshops, music and family-friendly activities to the city.

The festival transforms the city into an open-air gallery, welcoming internationally acclaimed mural artists alongside homegrown talent to create incredible large-scale artworks across Waterford.

Alongside the live painting, this year's festival features one of its biggest and most diverse programmes of events yet, with something for every age and interest.

Visitors can discover the stories behind Waterford's famous murals on daily guided walking tours.

They can also hear directly from internationally recognised artists during an artist talk with Mr Cenz, or explore the impact of public art on our cities at a special panel discussion, ‘More Than Murals: How Public Art Shapes Cities’, featuring renowned architect Dermot Bannon alongside Ned Brennan from Waterford City and County Council, designer Christine Murphy of Urban Aran and mural artist Holly Pereira.

One of the most exciting additions to this year's programme is Tag & Taste, an intimate evening hosted at Momo Restaurant where guests will enjoy dinner with festival artist Staylo before learning the art of graffiti lettering and tagging.

The unique experience combines great food, conversation and creativity in one unforgettable evening.

Throughout the festival, the Festival Hub will once again become the heart of the action.

Visitors can drop in throughout the day to grab a drink from the bar, watch artists creating new murals in real time, browse festival merchandise, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy a soundtrack of DJs and live music.

Whether you're spending an hour or an entire afternoon, the hub is the perfect place to experience the energy of Waterford Walls.

The celebrations culminate on Saturday, August 15, with the ever-popular Waterford Walls Street Party in Pocket Park, beside Henry Downes' Bar on Thomas Street.

This free, family-friendly event promises an afternoon packed with live mural painting, breakdancing, rap battles, DJs, street culture and plenty of entertainment for all ages.

Festival organisers are encouraging locals and visitors alike to get involved and experience everything the festival has to offer.

“There really is something for everyone this year,” said Lynn Ferrari, from the Waterford Walls team.

“Whether you're interested in architecture, street art, live music, workshops, family activities or simply want to spend time exploring the city, Waterford Walls offers a unique opportunity to experience Waterford in a completely different way.

“We can't wait to welcome everyone back.”

Waterford Walls is supported by Waterford City and County Council, The Arts Council, and Creative Ireland.

Headline sponsors for 2025 are Whitebox Interiors, Colourtrend, and Montana Cans.

For the full artist line-up, programme details, and latest updates, visit www.waterfordwalls.ie or follow @waterfordwalls on social media.