Irish embassy in Bulgaria announces St Patrick’s Festival 2026

The embassy of Ireland in Bulgaria has announced its plans for the celebration of

Saint Patrick’s Festival 2026.

This comes just before Ireland will take on the mantle of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in July 2026 at a juncture when global challenges have rarely looked so formidable, the embassy said.

Ireland has always played an active role in shaping the European Union, just as Europe has so profoundly shaped Ireland, it said.

Irish ambassador Catherine Bannon said: “I am once again thrilled that we are presenting such a broad and exciting programme of Irish culture in Bulgaria, during my second year as Ambassador here.

“The blend of local and Irish talent who will perform at our events really shows the resonance of Irish music, dance and song in the country, and we look forward to welcoming friends old and new to each of our events. The fact that this comes at a time of such great global uncertainly highlights even further the need for togetherness through culture.”

Sonas (Happiness) is a group made up of Irish and Bulgarians artists, aiming to present Irish music and dance in Bulgaria and abroad.

The formation performs traditional and original melodies and folklore ballad pieces, as well as modern works by Irish artists.

They will undertake an ambitious programme of shows in Sofia, Bansko and Plovdiv during this year’s Saint Patrick’s Festival. They will be joined by members of The Cunningham School of Irish Dancing, Sofia, and harpist Alice French.

Ispíní na hÉireann (The Sausages of Ireland) are a revolutionary traditional Irish fusion collective from Dublin, formed in 2018 and fronted by Tomás Mulligan, Paahto Cummins, and Declan Gillen.

Blending original compositions with unabashed reimaginings of staple traditional repertoire, Ispíní na hÉireann craft a sound that is raw, raucous, and unmistakably Irish. 

Their music fuses technical mastery with sharp wit, storytelling, and social commentary — performances that are as thought-provoking as they are electrifying; equal parts musicianship, mayhem, and meaning. With a reputation for exhilarating live shows and a bold approach to genre, Ispíní na hÉireann continue to redefine what contemporary Irish music can be.

For their incendiary Bulgarian debut, Tomás and Declan will be joined by Maeve Gillen on fiddle and uilleann pipes (Irish pipes) and Lucien Buhr on banjo.

The programme:

March 14 at 7pm: Digital Nomad Ball in Bansko – ticketed event

March 16 at 6pm: Traditional Irish music session with Ispíní na hÉireann at Tom’s Place, Sofia (open event)

March 17 (Saint Patrick’s Day) at 7pm: Saint Patrick’s Day Concert, featuring Sonas and Ispíní na hÉireann (invitation only)

March 18 at 7.30pm: Céilí (Irish dance) workshop at the Nature and Science Community Centre, Sofia (open event)

March 20 at 7.30pm: Céilí at the Nature and Science Community Centre, Sofia. (open event, registration required). Live music by Sonas.