Hundreds of thousands of international tourists are expected to travel to the country over the bank holiday weekend for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. 

By Alex Cloud 

Fáilte Ireland estimates that over 589,000 people attended the three-day St. Patrick’s Day festival last year, which generated €138 million in visitor revenue. 

While the figures for the current year are undetermined, Dublin Live reported that over half a million people were in Dublin today for celebrations. 

An Garda Siochana pledged over 1,000 members to the city centre to ensure all festivities went smoothly. 

“The St. Patrick’s Festival represents a major opportunity to highlight Ireland on the global stage. It is one of our most recognisable national events and signals the start of the traditional tourism season. It’s when visitors from near and far come to enjoy our culture, creativity and warm hospitality,” Minister for Tourism, Enterprise and Employment Peter Burke T.D. told Fáilte Ireland. 

“The 2026 Festival programme honours our national heritage through a vibrant mix of traditional and modern Irish culture. It supports local communities, artists and the tourism and hospitality sectors, while also generating valuable economic benefits for tourism SMEs throughout the county.” 

Bands walking in the Dublin parade – Photo credit: Fáilte Ireland 

The theme for this year’s festival was “Roots”, honouring Ireland’s rich history and folklore. 

In addition to the Dublin festival, several were held across the country, in counties such as Cork, Kilkenny, Sligo and Waterford. Fáilte Ireland supports these regional festivities as key drivers for tourism. 

“With an exciting programme of events across four days, this festival showcases the very best of Irish culture, entertainment and creativity, while delivering important economic benefits for tourism businesses and communities nationwide,” said Caroline Bocquel, CEO of Fáilte Ireland. 

“The celebrations not only bring people into our cities, towns and villages, they also shine an international spotlight on Ireland as a must-visit destination. Through Fáilte Ireland’s support for St. Patrick’s Festival Dublin and regional events nationwide, we are helping create compelling visitor experiences that inspire people to come to Ireland and explore all we have to offer.”  

Hosted by Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, the country has welcomed 60 global print, broadcast and international media. Combined, the audience reach is expected to be 155 million. 

St. Patrick’s Day and the celebrations held are used to promote Ireland as an amazing tourist destination. The media were invited to capture not only the holiday, but also the deep culture and natural beauty seen across the country. 

International media were invited from various countries, including Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Italy, and France. 

A pinnacle of the celebrations is the colourful performers and bands seen during the parade. This year, 14 international marching bands travelled to Ireland to join the celebrations. 

“St. Patrick’s Day is a significant cultural moment in Ireland’s tourism calendar, and we’re so pleased to welcome thousands of domestic and international visitors to celebrate Ireland’s heritage, shared story and that céad mile fáilte we’re famous for,” said Bocquel. 

The Dublin parade had over 3,000 entertainers, artists and musicians that were held together by 165 dedicated volunteers. 

“The St. Patrick’s Festival represents a major opportunity to highlight Ireland on the global stage. It is one of our most recognisable national events and signals the start of the traditional tourism season, when visitors from near and far come to enjoy our culture, creativity and warm hospitality,” said Burke.