Cork, Ireland

What's on in Cork

Concerts, festivals and things to do in Cork, soonest first.

Upcoming events in Cork

Concert hall with an orchestra platform as the audience arrives — AI-generated illustration

Sat, Oct 31

ECM Cork 2026 - Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir

Triskel Arts Centre · Cork

€35

Ongoing · ends Oct 31

Spike Spookfest Halloween Trail

Spike Island · Cork

€21

Thu, Nov 5

Catherine Bohart: Borrowing Trouble

Cork Comedy Club, City Limits · Cork

From €22

Sun, Nov 15

BARE

BOLT Studios · Cork

€10

Sun, Nov 15

THE ANFIELD WRAP - LIVE

The Oliver Plunkett · Cork

From €24

Choir in black seen from behind in a whitewashed church — AI-generated illustration

Sat, Nov 21

Prayers and Truths with Gealán Quartet: Autumn String Quartet Series 2026

Triskel Arts Centre · Cork

€18

Candlelit string quartet in a church — AI-generated illustration

Tue, Dec 8

CHRISTMAS AT THE MOVIES BY CANDLELIGHT

Cork City Hall · Cork

From €38

A violinist plays in a candlelit stone crypt while the audience watches from behind. — AI-generated illustration

Sun, Jan 3, 2027

VIENNESE CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR BY CANDLELIGHT

Cork City Hall · Cork

From €38

An Evening With... Josh Ritter

Mon, Feb 8, 2027

An Evening With... Josh Ritter

Cork Opera House · Cork

See ticket options

Fri, Feb 26, 2027

Gary Delaney: Gary On Laughing

Everyman Palace Theatre · Cork

From €35

Alexandra Kay

Wed, Apr 7, 2027

Alexandra Kay

Cyprus Avenue · Cork

See ticket options

Sat, May 22, 2027

RUBY WAX: ABSOLUTELY FAMOUS

The Everyman · Cork

From £39

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Popular venues in Cork

Cork travel guides

Planning around events? These guides collect 2026 calendars, festival clusters, and practical trip ideas so you can compare dates before you book.

Top things to do in Cork

The most popular sights, with 2026 entrance fees. Prices are adult admission — cheapest at the gate. Many of the best things are free.

AttractionEntranceTimeWhy go
Blarney Castle & GardensVaries2-3 hoursDAY TRIP (approx. 20 min / 8km from Cork city). 15th-century castle famous for the Blarney Stone at the top of the battlements, said to grant the 'gift of the gab' to those who kiss it; the surrounding gardens, Poison Garden and rock close are worth the visit even without the climb.
The English MarketFree30-60 minutesHistoric covered food market dating to 1788, in continuous operation and a genuine working part of Cork life (Queen Elizabeth II famously visited in 2011). Browse artisan food stalls, fishmongers and butchers under Victorian ironwork; the market itself is a landmark, individual stalls are not in scope.
Titanic Experience Cobh€121 hour (guided tour)DAY TRIP (Cobh, approx. 25 min / 24km from Cork city). Located in the original White Star Line ticket office from which Titanic's final passengers boarded a tender out to the ship; guided tour with period recreations tells the story of Cobh's (then Queenstown's) role as Titanic's last port of call.
St Fin Barre's Cathedral€845-60 minutesNeo-Gothic Church of Ireland cathedral (completed 1879) on the site of Cork's original 7th-century monastic settlement, with an elaborately carved west front and gilded angel on the roof. One of the defining pieces of Cork's skyline.
Spike Island€27.953-4 hours including ferry and tourDAY TRIP (ferry from Kennedy Pier, Cobh, approx. 25 min drive to Cobh + 10 min ferry). Star-shaped fortress and former prison island in Cork Harbour, dubbed 'Ireland's Alcatraz'; ticket includes the ferry crossing and a guided storyteller-led tour of the fort and former punishment block.

Visiting Cork?

Plan your stay in Cork

Interactive accommodation map from our partner Stay22 — we may earn a commission from bookings made through it.

Getting to Cork

Accommodation options for Cork are listed above, alongside travel essentials for your trip.

About Cork

Cork is Ireland's second city, built on an island in the River Lee with a compact centre around St Patrick's Street and the English Market. It has a strong food and arts scene and serves as a gateway to the harbour towns of Cobh and Kinsale.

2026 guides

Planning around events? These guides collect 2026 calendars, festival clusters, and practical trip ideas so you can compare dates before you book.