It gets bigger every year.

If your idea of a good weekend involves great whiskey, good stories and hopping between bars that know what they’re doing, Cork Whiskey Fest is about to be very much your thing.

Ireland’s fastest-growing whiskey festival is back from March 27th to 29th, 2026, taking over Cork City for three days of rare pours, deep dives and seriously good vibes.

Festival founders Laurie and Sonya O’Dwyer in Cork City Hall. Photo. Darragh Kane

With Oliver Plunkett Street becoming the beating heart of the festival and Cork City Hall hosting a bigger-than-ever Brand Expo & Socials, this year’s line-up is shaping up to be the most exciting yet—equal parts craft, culture and craic.

Here’s the full line-up, with dates and locations first so you can plan your route (and your pours) accordingly:

• Friday 27th & Saturday 28th March | Cork City Hall
  Brand Expo & Socials, 7.00–10.30pm
  Two lively evenings bringing the festival buzz to City Hall, with brands, tastings and plenty of chances to mingle.

• Saturday 28th March | Midleton Distillery, Midleton
  The Distillery Day, 12 noon
  The most sought-after ticket of the festival, offering rare access to the distillery masters, warehouses and visitor centre—plus exceptional whiskey samples.

• Saturday 28th March | The Frisky Whiskey Bar, Oliver Plunkett Street
  A Pint & A Drop, 1.30pm
  Head brewers from Blarney Brewing Co, Rising Sons Brewery and Original 7 Brewery join forces with Silent Irish Distilleries for a unique beer-and-whiskey crossover.

• Saturday 28th March | Counihan’s Bar, Oliver Plunkett Street
  Vintage Whiskey Crocks, 1.30pm
  Dr Fionnán O’Connor explores the fascinating history of ceramic whiskey vessels before glass bottles took over in the 1800s.

• Saturday 28th March | Canty’s Bar, Oliver Plunkett Street
  Silent Irish Distillers, 3.30pm
  Master storyteller Ger Garland delves into Ireland’s lost distilleries and the remarkable whiskeys they once produced.

• Saturday 28th March | The Poor Relations, Oliver Plunkett Street
  The Renegades: Scotch Irish Blends, 3.30pm
  Mark Lonergan examines the cross-border rebels of the whiskey world and how Scotch-Irish blends came to be.

• Friday 27th March | The Wine Buff, Oliver McCurtain Street
  Italian Wines Evening
  Hosted by Mike and Katrin McDonnell, offering a flavour-packed detour from whiskey.

• Sunday 29th March | The Wine Buff, Oliver McCurtain Street
  Wild Wines, 2pm
  Another distinctive tasting experience curated by the McDonnells.

• Sunday 29th March | Imperial Hotel Ballroom
  Redbreast Cask Masterclass, 2pm
  A deep dive into Midleton’s finest casks destined for future Redbreast releases, paired with nibbles from the Imperial’s executive head chef.

• Sunday 29th March | The Frisky Whiskey Bar, Oliver Plunkett Street
  Peated Pot Still Whiskey with Killowen, 2pm
  Brendan Carty showcases rare peated pot still whiskeys from the Mourne Mountains, including freshly drawn cask samples.

• Sunday 29th March | Imperial Hotel Ballroom
  Midleton Warehouse Masterclass, 6pm
  The festival’s closing event, featuring an exceptional tasting of double-distilled and obscure cask whiskeys, again paired with expertly matched food.

Whether you’re hopping between bars on Oliver Plunkett Street or heading further afield for a headline masterclass, it’s a weekend designed for exploring Cork—one glass at a time. Get your tickets here.