Spraoi 2026: Your full guide to what’s on in Waterford today as festival gets underway

The Spraoi International Arts Festival 2026 gets underway today, with huge crowds expected to flock to Waterford city.

Friday is the first day of the festival and there’s plenty in store for visitors to Ireland’s oldest city.

Here’s your full guide to what’s on in the city centre this afternoon and evening.

^4pm

• John Roberts Square – Wave: Around The World (Interactive)
• O'Connell Street – L'Homme-Orchestre (Interactive, Spectacle, Street Theatre, Walkabout)

^4:30pm

• Michael Street – Windbags (Walkabout)
• Broad Street – Truth! (Interactive, Street Theatre)

^5:30pm

• O'Connell Street – L'Homme-Orchestre (Interactive, Spectacle, Street Theatre, Walkabout)

^6pm

• Michael Street – Tandoori Tunes (Interactive, Spectacle)

^6:15pm

• John Roberts Square – Tutti In Vallgia (Spectacle, Street Theatre)

7pm

• John Roberts Square – Funfair Oli Joy (Interactive, Comedy)

^7:30pm

• O'Connell Street – Japanese Taiko Drumming (Spectacle, Street Theatre)

^8pm

• John Roberts Square – Japanese Taiko Drumming (Spectacle, Street Theatre)

^9:15pm

• Gladstone Street – MDR – Death From Laughter (Spectacle, Street Theatre, Walkabout)

^9:45pm

• Broad Street – Dream Of The Shaman (Spectacle, Street Theatre)

The Spraoi International Street Arts Festival 2026 is taking place from Friday, July 31 to Sunday, August 2.

Thousands of people are expected to flock to Waterford city today as the street carnival entertainment gets underway

Music, dance, street performance and spectacle await visitors to the city.