Forest Fest 2026 Review: Bigger, Better And Still Full Of Heart
By New Fields, Same Feeling: Forest Fest Begins A Bold New Chapter
Changing a festival’s home is a gamble. Move the stages, redraw the map, promise better facilities, and you’re not just shifting fences—you’re asking thousands of loyal fans to believe the spirit will come with it. Forest Fest 2026 rolled the dice, leaving its old surroundings behind for a new site in Emo with the promise of shorter walks between campsite and arena. As the final chords rang out last weekend and the crowds drifted home, one thing became abundantly clear: Forest Fest hadn’t lost its identity—it had found room to grow.
That said, the move wasn’t entirely without its growing pains. Campsite gates were scheduled to open at midday, but by 10am queues had already begun to snake across the carpark as regulars arrived expecting the early access they’d enjoyed in previous years. It never came. When the gates eventually opened slightly behind schedule, the delay rippled into lengthy waits at the wristband exchange, leaving many eager festivalgoers kicking off their weekend in a queue rather than in front of a stage. To their credit, the organisers have already noted the bottleneck, it’s a safe bet the process will be far smoother next year.
Saturday’s great chair invasion also deserved a mention. By mid-afternoon, an ever-growing sea of fold-up chairs had spread across large sections of the arena, turning simple journeys between stages into an obstacle course. Thankfully, organisers acted swiftly, with the issue noticeably improved by Sunday. It’s another lesson that will no doubt shape next year’s layout, but ultimately it was a minor blemish rather than a defining feature of the weekend.
With those early hiccups out of the way, it’s time to focus on what Forest Fest does better than almost anywhere else. Once the first bands hit the stage, the queues became an afterthought, the atmosphere took over, and the festival effortlessly reminded everyone why it has become one of Ireland’s finest independent music festivals. It’s not the biggest weekend on the calendar, nor does it need to be. Forest Fest thrives on its sense of community, eclectic line-up and the kind of laid-back charm that bigger festivals often struggle to replicate.
The Charlatans Lead A Strong Opening Day
Friday’s highlights on the Forest Stage came thick and fast, with post-punk legends The Chameleons, indie favourites The Wedding Present, and The Charlatans all delivering sets that reminded everyone why their influence still runs deep. Not every moment hit the mark, though, with Echo & The Bunnymen proving a slight disappointment on the night, never quite reaching the heights their back catalogue deserved.
If the Forest Stage was serving nostalgia with polish, the Village Stage was where the party was happening. Something Happens and Bruce Foxton kept the crowd buzzing, but it was The Undertones who truly stole the show. Their set was joyous, energetic and packed with timeless punk-pop anthems, sounding every bit as urgent and life-affirming as they did decades ago.
With so much happening across the site, catching every act was never going to be possible. Even so, the performances I did manage to catch away from the main stages left a lasting impression. Dopamine lit up the Perfect Day Stage with a set full of confidence and momentum, while one of the weekend’s most talked-about new names, Dave Lofts, more than justified the buzz with an assured performance on the new Kickin’ Up Dust Stage.
The evening’s planned finale took an unexpected turn when Björn Again were forced to cancel due to illness. But in true festival fashion, the absence of a headline act didn’t dampen spirits. Over in the VIP area, The Valves stepped up with a set packed full of crowd-pleasing anthems, turning what could have been a frustrating end to the night into one of those spontaneous festival moments that people end up talking about long after the tents have been packed away.
Deacon Blue, James & A Day To Remember
Saturday always felt like the festival’s biggest day, and with wall-to-wall sunshine drenching the site, Forest Fest hit its stride. On the main stage, The Fratellis, The Coronas, Deacon Blue, James and The King Kong Company delivered a run of performances that kept the crowd locked in from start to finish, each bringing something different to the table.
The standout, though, was Deacon Blue. Their set was warm, effortless and packed with the kind of timeless classics that had thousands singing every word back. It was one of those rare festival performances that seemed to unite the entire arena, proving that great songs never lose their power.
The Village Stage continued to punch well above its weight, serving up another string of standout performances from Ham Sandwich, Sultans of Ping, Aoife Destruction and Fun-Lovin’ Criminals. Each brought a different flavour to the weekend, but if there were two sets that truly lingered in the memory, it was Ham Sandwich and Fun-Lovin’ Criminals. The former delivered a polished, emotionally charged performance that drew the crowd in, while the latter turned the tent into one big party, proving they still know exactly how to work a festival audience.
If Forest Fest has a knack for anything beyond booking established names, it’s spotting tomorrow’s headliners. Over on the Perfect Day Stage, two of Ireland’s most exciting emerging acts made compelling cases for much bigger slots in the years ahead. Run The Red impressed with a dynamic blend of alt-indie rock, their soaring violin lines adding an unexpected richness to an already powerful sound, while BABYRAT lived up to the growing hype, exploding onto the stage with the kind of fearless, high-octane performance that demands your attention from the opening note.
The Boomtown Rats & Madness Bring The House Down
Sunday arrived far too quickly. Somehow, in the blink of an eye, Forest Fest was already preparing to wave goodbye to another unforgettable weekend. Thankfully, there was still one final day packed with heavyweight performances to savour.
The Forest Stage boasted arguably its strongest line-up of the weekend. Jack Lukeman, Cry Before Dawn, Feeder, The Boomtown Rats, Madness and closing spectacular Qween with the Dublin Gospel Choir ensured there was barely a quiet moment from the first note to the last.
Bob Geldof was every bit the commanding frontman with The Boomtown Rats, prowling the stage with the same swagger and sharp wit that have defined the band for decades. Madness followed with the ever-charismatic Suggs leading a joyous, hit-packed celebration that had the entire arena singing, dancing and grinning from ear to ear.
As for Qween, they remain the gold standard when it comes to closing a festival. Backed by the soaring voices of the Dublin Gospel Choir, they transformed the final slot into a full-blown celebration, sending thousands home on a euphoric high. If there’s a better festival closer in Ireland right now, I’ve yet to see them.
Whenever there was a gap between the main stage action, the Village Stage proved impossible to resist. Gemma Hayes captivated with an elegant, understated performance that offered a welcome breather from the weekend’s bombast, while The Wonder Stuff delivered exactly the kind of joyous, nostalgia-laced set a festival crowd craves. Decades on, their chemistry remains effortless, their songs as infectious as ever, and the audience lapped up every minute.
And just like that, it was over. A weekend that began with a handful of teething problems quickly found its rhythm, growing into one of the finest editions of Forest Fest to date. Great music, great people and a stunning new home combined to create a festival that felt every bit as welcoming as it was unforgettable.
Moving to a new location was Forest Fest’s biggest roll of the dice, but it proved to be a masterstroke. Any early bumps in the road were soon forgotten, replaced by three days of unforgettable performances, infectious energy and a festival that stayed true to its identity. If this is the blueprint for Forest Fest’s future, it’s a very bright one indeed.
