Listowel Writers’ Week is Ireland’s oldest and most esteemed literary festival, held each late May to early June in the charming town of Listowel, County Kerry. Founded in 1970, the festival brings together writers, poets, and readers from Ireland and around the world for readings, workshops, panel discussions, and awards ceremonies. The town’s pubs, theatres, and streets buzz with creativity as both emerging and established voices share their work in an atmosphere of warmth and curiosity. Blending literature, community, and conversation, Listowel Writers’ Week celebrates the written word in the heart of rural Ireland.
DATES & TIMES
• Festival dates (2026): Wednesday, May 27–Sunday, May 31, 2026. Discover Ireland listing · Ireland.com listing.
• The organizer states the 55th edition begins on May 27, 2026; the full 2026 programme is still being released. Organizer update · Programme page.
• Workshop timing guidance (official FAQ): 10:00 AM–12:30 PM across Thursday, Friday, and Saturday mornings. FAQ.
LOCATION
• Listowel, County Kerry, Ireland. Open in Google Maps.
• Organizer office / box office address: 24 The Square, Listowel, County Kerry, V31 RD93, Ireland. Open in Google Maps · Official contact details.
• Festival ticket desk during the festival: Listowel Arms Hotel, The Square, Listowel, County Kerry, V31 DF80, Ireland. Open in Google Maps · FAQ.
TICKETS & ENTRY
• Official ticketing is provided through Ticketsolve. Terms & Conditions.
• Official booking fee: €3 per ticket when booking online; no transaction fee for bookings made by post. Fees (official).
• Once booked, tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded. Tickets can be collected at 24 The Square, at the Listowel Arms Hotel during the festival, or at the venue just before the booked performance (per official terms). Official ticket dispatch / refund policy.
GOOD TO KNOW
• Parking guidance (official FAQ): free parking throughout the town for the duration of the festival, with additional public car parks in town. FAQ.
• Venue access (official FAQ): festival venues are described as within easy walking distance of each other. FAQ.
• Seating guidance (official FAQ): events use free seating; arriving about 15 minutes early is suggested for more choice of seat. FAQ.
• Latecomers may be asked to wait for a suitable break, and may not be admitted if there is no suitable break. Official terms.