Limerick St Patrick’s Festival parades to be livestreamed for the first time ever

FOR the first time ever, audiences around the world will be able to watch two of Limerick’s biggest St Patrick’s Festival events live as both the Limerick City St Patrick’s Day Parade and the International Band Championship Parade will be broadcast online. 

The new livestream initiative will allow viewers to tune in from anywhere in the world, bringing the colour, creativity and spectacle of Limerick’s St Patrick’s celebrations to an even wider audience. 

Limerick St Patrick’s Festival 2026 is just days away, and the city and county are gearing up for five days of celebration, under the theme ‘Legends of Limerick’ honouring the people, stories and traditions that make Limerick unique. From Friday, March 13 to Tuesday, March 17, Limerick will come alive with a vibrant programme of events packed with colour, creativity and community spirit.  

While thousands of people are expected to line the streets of Limerick to enjoy the International Band Championship and the Limerick City St Patrick’s Day Parade, in person, the livestream will allow those who cannot attend - whether due to distance, travel, busy schedules or other commitments - to still be part of the celebrations. 

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Watch live as the parades unfold on Limerick.ie.  

Brendan Troy, Senior Executive Officer, Tourism, Enterprise and Trade at Limerick City and County Council, commented: 

“We’re absolutely thrilled to introduce livestreaming for both the International Band Championship and the Limerick City St Patrick’s Day Parade for the first time in 2026. This initiative will allow people across the world to tune in and share in the excitement - whether it’s someone living abroad who wants to see their hometown celebrate St Patrick’s Day, grandparents watching to spot a grandchild in the parade, or friends and family supporting a band or community group taking part. It’s a wonderful way to open up these spectacular events to a much wider audience while still encouraging people to come into the city and enjoy the unique atmosphere of the festival in person.” 

The Limerick’s St Patrick’s Festival 2026 programme offers a wide range of family-friendly activities designed to entertain visitors of all ages. Dive into hands-on fun with St Patrick’s Festival activities at the Milk Market and Hunt Museum across the weekend. Make your own Stained Glass Art at King John’s Castle, catch street music with the HandCranked Tunes Duo, craft at Go Fly Your Kite Workshops, discover Vikings in Adare, and enjoy storytelling with Tales of St Patrick and Seanchaí Storytelling at Lough Gur.  

At the heart of the celebrations will be the Limerick city St Patrick’s Day Parade on Tuesday, March 17, which will see the streets of the city transformed into a spectacular celebration of creativity, performance and community participation. This year the parade Grand Marshal will be Irish national women’s marathon champion Ava Crean. The St Patrick’s Festival Block Party will keep the positive vibes going in Arthur’s Quay Park with spectacular performances and upbeat tunes. 

Limerick communities have also organised parades across the county with support from Limerick Council. 

The Hammonds Brass Band, one of the UK’s leading brass ensembles, will perform a special St Patrick’s Festival concert on Saturday, March 14 at 7pm in the historic St Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick. It’s a perfect curtain raiser for the return of the much-loved International Band Championship on Sunday, March 15, when fifteen marching bands from Ireland, USA, the UK and Ghana will fill the streets of Limerick with music, colour and pageantry in one of the festival’s most popular events. You are invited to enjoy further performances at a free concert in Arthur’s Quay Park following the parade. 

On Monday night, March 16, Arthur’s Quay Park will host a free open-air concert on the Legends of Limerick Stage, featuring some of Limerick’s most exciting musical talent, creating a lively atmosphere as the city builds towards St Patrick’s Day. (Over 18’s Only.) 

Catch performances from: Major Feen, The Labourers, Citrus Fresh, Hazey Haze and Denise Chaila.   

Limerick St Patrick’s Festival is brought to you by Limerick Council with support from Fáilte Ireland. Whether you’re a parade-lover, a culture-seeker, or simply ready to soak up the atmosphere, now is the time to start planning your festival experience. 

Limerick StPatrick’s Festival 2026 media partners are Limerick Leader, Limerick’s Live95, Limerick Post and Spin Southwest. 

Limerick Council has announced temporary road closures and parking restrictions on March 15 and March 17 to facilitate the Limerick International Band Championship and the Limerick City St Patrick’s Day Parade, affecting key city routes including O’Connell Avenue, Quinlan Street, The Crescent, Henry Street, Liddy Street, Cecil Street, and adjoining roads, with closures generally in place from 7am to 3.30pm and parking prohibitions from 3am to 3.30pm on both days.