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MUSIC | MARCH 5
FESTIVAL KICK OFF PARTY
Kick Off at Paddy Reilly's Music Bar
The legendary CraicFest Kickoff Party is where the festival truly begins. Over the years, this opening night has become a cornerstone of CraicFest with packed venue, unforgettable performances, and Irish culture coming alive in New York City. Past kickoff shows have featured iconic acts including Rubberbandits and KNEECAP, setting the bar for what a CraicFest opening night is all about!
+ Free event – RSVP Required | Doors 6:30pm | 21+
MUSIC | MARCH 5
FESTIVAL KICK
OFF PARTYKick Off at Paddy Reilly's Music Bar
+ Free event – RSVP Required | Doors 6:30pm | 21+
-
FILM | MARCH 5
Saipan:
A World Cup Feud
NYC PremiereCraicFest 2026 officially opens on March 5th with the New York City Premiere of SAIPAN at Village East by Angelika.
This special opening night screening marks the film’s first-ever presentation to NYC audiences, making it a landmark moment for both the festival and Irish cinema in New York City.
Village East Cinemas / 7:00pm
+After party at Solas | E9th St. off 2nd Ave.
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FILM | MARCH 6
Best of Shorts +
Filmmaker After PartyThis Besy of Shorts Showcase celebrates bold new voices in Irish cinema with a curated program of award-winning short films that span drama, intimacy, humor, and raw human connection. The evening features Mouse, directed by Rosie Barrett and starring Lynn Raffery, alongside I DO directed by Joseph Jones, HomeTime directed by Jonathan Lambert, and Gale Force directed by Tara Hegarty. Together, these films showcase a dynamic range of storytelling and cinematic craft from some of Ireland’s most exciting filmmakers.
Village East Cinemas / 7:00pm
+After party at Factory 380 | 380 3rd Ave.
FILM | MARCH 6
Best of Shorts
Village East Cinemas / 7:00pm
+ Filmaker After party at Factory 380 | 380 3rd Ave.
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FILM | MARCH 7
KIDS FEST:
Best of Animated ShortsKids Program: Best of Short Films is a fun, family-friendly screening showcasing award-winning animated and live-action short films designed especially for children and families. This lively program features celebrated shorts, including past Oscar®-nominated favorites such as Give Up Yer Aul Sins and Granny O’Grimm, offering humor, imagination, and storytelling that delights audiences of all ages. Perfect for young film lovers and parents alike, this engaging shorts program introduces children to the magic of cinema in an accessible and entertaining way.
Village East Cinemas / 11:30am
FILM | MARCH 7
KIDS PROGRAM: Best of Animated Shorts
Village East Cinemas / 11:30am
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FILM | MARCH 7
BP Fallon: Rock'n'Roll Wizard Vol. 1
From The Beatles to Jack White - one man’s rock ’n’ roll journey!
Directed by Niall Carver, BP Fallon: Rock’n’Roll Wizard traces the remarkable arc of Fallon’s life, from the explosive rise of British rock through to unexpected late-career reinvention.
Village East Cinemas / 1:00pm
FILM | MARCH 7
BP Fallon:
Rock'n'Roll Wizard Vol. 1Village East Cinemas / 1:00pm
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FILM | MARCH 7
Where the Road Meets the Sky
U.S. PremiereWhere the Road Meets the Sky is a layered and deeply reflective experimental film funded by the Arts Council Ireland, examining the intersection of time, language, and memory through the lived experience of Irish Travellers.
Village East Cinemas / 3:00pm
FILM | MARCH 7
Where the Road Meets the Sky
U.S. PremiereVillage East Cinemas / 3:00pm
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FILM | MARCH 7
Ballroom Boom
U.S. PremierBallroom Boom brings CraicFest 2026 to a close with a powerful, music-driven documentary — followed by a closing night party celebrating Irish sound, storytelling, and legacy.
U2s Adam Clayton explores the extraordinary rise and fall of Ireland’s showband era, when over 700 bands and thousands of musicians performed live in ballrooms across Ireland almost every night of the week during the 1960s.
Village East Cinemas / 7:00pm
+ Ticket includes Screening and After party at Solas | E9th St. off 2nd Ave.
FILM | MARCH 7
Ballroom Boom
U.S. PremierVillage East Cinemas / 7:00pm
+ Ticket includes Screening and After party at Solas | E9th St. off 2nd Ave.
CraicFest is the premier contemporary Irish cultural festival bringing bold storytelling, world-class cinema, fresh talent, and the best of Ireland’s modern creative voice to New York City.
CraicFest is the premier contemporary Irish cultural festival bringing bold storytelling, world-class cinema, fresh talent, and the best of Ireland’s modern creative voice to New York City.
Festival Kick Off Party!
March 4 | 6:30pm | Paddy Reilly’s Music Bar
The legendary CraicFest Kickoff Party is where the festival truly begins. Over the years, this opening night has become a cornerstone of CraicFest with packed venue, unforgettable performances, and Irish culture coming alive in New York City. Past kickoff shows have featured iconic acts including Rubberbandits and KNEECAP, setting the bar for what a CraicFest opening night is all about!
Guest: Internationally acclaimed Irish dancer Kait Rock returns to CraicFest fresh off the stage of Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter Tour.
Music Guest: The Graham Smith All Stars will perform with a collection of Irish rock & trad session.
Special Music Guest: TBA
Festival Kick
Off Party!
March 4 | 6:30pm
Paddy Reilly’s Music Bar
The legendary CraicFest Kickoff Party is where the festival truly begins. Over the years, this opening night has become a cornerstone of CraicFest with packed venue, unforgettable performances, and Irish culture coming alive in New York City. Past kickoff shows have featured iconic acts including Rubberbandits and KNEECAP, setting the bar for what a CraicFest opening night is all about!
Guest: Internationally acclaimed Irish dancer Kait Rock returns to CraicFest fresh off the stage of Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter Tour.
Music Guest: The Graham Smith All Stars will perform with a collection of Irish rock & trad session.
Special Music Guest: TBA
ON THE SCREEN
March 5 –7
Saipan:
A World Cup Feud
Shorts Night
Kids Fest
BP Fallon: Rock'n'Roll Wizard Vol.1
Where the road
meets the sky
Ballroom Boom
March 5 | 7pm
Saipan: A World Cup Feud
New York City Premier
CraicFest 2026 officially opens on March 5th with the New York City Premiere of SAIPAN at Village East by Angelika.
This special opening night screening marks the film’s first-ever presentation to NYC audiences, making it a landmark moment for both the festival and Irish cinema in New York City.
SAIPAN revisits the infamous events surrounding Ireland’s 2002 World Cup campaign, when tensions between team captain Roy Keane and manager Mick McCarthy erupted into one of the most controversial moments in Irish sporting history.
+After party at Solas | E9th St. off 2nd Ave.
March 5 | 7pm
Saipan:
A World Cup Feud
NYC Premiere
CraicFest 2026 officially opens on March 5th with the New York City Premiere of SAIPAN at Village East by Angelika.
This special opening night screening marks the film’s first-ever presentation to NYC audiences, making it a landmark moment for both the festival and Irish cinema in New York City.
SAIPAN revisits the infamous events surrounding Ireland’s 2002 World Cup campaign, when tensions between team captain Roy Keane and manager Mick McCarthy erupted into one of the most controversial moments in Irish sporting history.
March 6 | 7pm
Best of Shorts
opens in a new window
A Showcase of Irish shorts + Filmmaker After Party
This Irish Shorts evening celebrates bold new voices in Irish cinema with a curated program of award-winning short films that span drama, intimacy, humor, and raw human connection. The evening features Mouse, directed by Rosie Barrett and starring Lynn Raffery, alongside I DO directed by Joseph Jones, HomeTime directed by Jonathan Lambert, and Gale Force directed by Tara Hegarty. Together, these films showcase a dynamic range of storytelling and cinematic craft from some of Ireland’s most exciting filmmakers.
+After party at Factory 380 | 380 3rd Ave.
March 6 | 7pm
Best of Shorts
opens in a new window
A Showcase of Irish shorts + Filmmaker After Party
This Irish Shorts evening celebrates bold new voices in Irish cinema with a curated program of award-winning short films that span drama, intimacy, humor, and raw human connection. The evening features Mouse, directed by Rosie Barrett and starring Lynn Raffery, alongside I DO directed by Joseph Jones, HomeTime directed by Jonathan Lambert, and Gale Force directed by Tara Hegarty. Together, these films showcase a dynamic range of storytelling and cinematic craft from some of Ireland’s most exciting filmmakers.
+After party at Factory 380 | 380 3rd Ave.
March 7 | 11:30am
Kids Program
Kids Program: Best of Animated Shorts is a fun, family-friendly screening showcasing award-winning animated and live-action short films designed especially for children and families. This lively program features celebrated shorts, including past Oscar®-nominated favorites such as Give Up Yer Aul Sins and Granny O’Grimm, offering humor, imagination, and storytelling that delights audiences of all ages.
Perfect for young film lovers and parents alike, this engaging shorts program introduces children to the magic of cinema in an accessible and entertaining way.
opens in a new window
March 7 | 11:30am
Kids Program
opens in a new window
Kids Program: Best of Animated Shorts is a fun, family-friendly screening showcasing award-winning animated and live-action short films designed especially for children and families. This lively program features celebrated shorts, including past Oscar®-nominated favorites such as Give Up Yer Aul Sins and Granny O’Grimm, offering humor, imagination, and storytelling that delights audiences of all ages.
Perfect for young film lovers and parents alike, this engaging shorts program introduces children to the magic of cinema in an accessible and entertaining way.
March 7 | 1pm
BP Fallon: Rock'n'Roll Wizard Vol. 1
opens in a new window
From The Beatles to Jack White - one man’s rock ’n’ roll journey!
Directed by Niall Carver, BP Fallon: Rock’n’Roll Wizard Vol. 1 traces the remarkable arc of Fallon’s life, from the explosive rise of British rock through to unexpected late-career reinvention.
Along the way, Fallon’s story intersects with some of the most iconic names in modern music: The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, T. Rex, Johnny Thunders, and U2; artists who didn’t just define eras, but rewrote the rules.
March 7 | 1pm
BP Fallon:
Rock'n'Roll Wizard Vol. 1
opens in a new window
From The Beatles to Jack White - one man’s rock ’n’ roll journey!
Directed by Niall Carver, BP Fallon: Rock’n’Roll Wizard Vol. 1 traces the remarkable arc of Fallon’s life, from the explosive rise of British rock through to unexpected late-career reinvention.
Along the way, Fallon’s story intersects with some of the most iconic names in modern music: The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, T. Rex, Johnny Thunders, and U2; artists who didn’t just define eras, but rewrote the rules.
March 7 | 3pm
Where The Road Meets The Sky
U.S. Premier
Where the Road Meets the Sky is a layered and deeply reflective experimental film funded by the Arts Council of Ireland, examining the intersection of time, language, and memory through the lived experience of Irish Travellers.
At the center of the film stands Chrissy Donaghue Ward, grandmother of the film’s writer and director John Connors, a towering figure in Irish Traveller history. An unwavering matriarch, civil rights activist, and the last Shanakee of the open road from the Donaghue, Ward, and Connors clans, Chrissy is the keeper of a culture shaped by movement, oral storytelling, and survival.
March 7 | 3pm
Where The Road
Meets The Sky
U.S. Premier
Where the Road Meets the Sky is a layered and deeply reflective experimental film funded by the Arts Council of Ireland, examining the intersection of time, language, and memory through the lived experience of Irish Travellers.
At the center of the film stands Chrissy Donaghue Ward, grandmother of the film’s writer and director John Connors, a towering figure in Irish Traveller history. An unwavering matriarch, civil rights activist, and the last Shanakee of the open road from the Donaghue, Ward, and Connors clans, Chrissy is the keeper of a culture shaped by movement, oral storytelling, and survival.
March 7 | 7pm
Ballroom Boom
U.S. Premier
The music that filled the ballrooms — and changed everything.
Ballroom Boom brings CraicFest 2026 to a close with a powerful, music-driven documentary - followed by a closing night party celebrating Irish sound, storytelling, and legacy.
U2s Adam Clayton explores the extraordinary rise and fall of Ireland’s showband era, when over 700 bands and thousands of musicians performed live in ballrooms across Ireland almost every night of the week during the 1960s.
+After party at Solas | E9th St. off 2nd Ave.
opens in a new window
March 7 | 7pm
Ballroom Boom
U.S. Premier
opens in a new window
The music that filled the ballrooms — and changed everything.
Ballroom Boom brings CraicFest 2026 to a close with a powerful, music-driven documentary - followed by a closing night party celebrating Irish sound, storytelling, and legacy.
U2s Adam Clayton explores the extraordinary rise and fall of Ireland’s showband era, when over 700 bands and thousands of musicians performed live in ballrooms across Ireland almost every night of the week during the 1960s.
+After party at Solas | E9th St. off 2nd Ave.
WHAT'S ON NEXT
From incredible live music to outstanding artists and hilarious comedians, there is always something in the works. We'd love to share it with you!
WHAT'S ON NEXT
From incredible live music to outstanding artists and hilarious comedians, there is always something in the works. We'd love to share it with you!
IN THE NEWS
IN THE NEWS
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