Situated on the west coast of Ireland by the Atlantic Ocean, Galway has long been considered a centre of cultural excellence. Galway is a vibrant university city with its unique city centre, a labyrinth of winding medieval streets, squares and waterways.

Galway Arts Festival is Ireland's largest international arts festival. Founded in 1978 it has grown into an event with a major reputation where, in 2012, there were 163,548 attendances at 160 performances, talks and exhibitions in 27 venues over 14 days. The Festival showcases a wide variety of international artists alongside the best of Irish talent and includes music (popular, contemporary, jazz, world, classical and traditional), theatre (indoor and outdoor), visual arts, dance, talks, discussions, family events and comedy in its programme.

The Festival has consolidated its reputation nationally and internationally and continues to develop its profile through the international media and attracts 27% of its audience from abroad. It has developed a profile within the ‘festival world' where it now is viewed as operating on an international circuit, with a reputation equal to that of much larger international festivals.

The Festival has contributed hugely to placing Galway firmly on the map as both a key cultural centre for the arts and cultural tourism destination. In addition the Festival has founded and acted as a seedbed for a number of well known and established arts organisations in Galway.

Highlights from the programme in recent years included, Primal Scream, Philip Glass, New York Dolls, David Gray, David Byrne, Brad Mehldau, Blondie, Kronos Quartet, Brodsky Quartet, Bon Iver, David Hockney, Joni Mitchell, Henri Matisse amongst others.

Visiting international theatre and dance companies have included John Mahoney and Northlight Theatre, The Royal National Theatre, Propeller, The Royal Court, Steppenwolf, Michael Clark Dance Company, Hofesh Shechter Dance Company, The Abbey Theatre, Druid Theatre Company and the Bristol Old Vic.

The Festival also present traditional music concerts in large-scale and intimate settings, and large scale street spectacle from Royal de Luxe to the annual Macnas Festival Parade.

Here is just a taste of what the press have had to say about Galway Arts Festival: 

The biggest, most exciting, most imaginative explosion of arts activity this country has...
The Irish Times

...a glorious kaleidoscopic fortnight of events...
The Irish Examiner

...this year's Galway fortnight made you look at life anew...
The Irish Times

One of Europe's most important cultural events.
BBC TV

The spirit of Galway Arts Festival is all-inclusive, accessible and always open to suggestion. Contemporary festivals fall over themselves to state their commitment to both street and "high art". The difference in Galway is that ambition is realised.
The Observer

It's festival season, one event triumphs them all - Galway Arts Festival.
The Irish Independent

Galway...one of the most significant arts festivals anywhere.
The Irish Independent