Galway Film Fleadh has announced the full programme for its 38th edition, taking place from July 7 to 12, 2026, at Pálás Cinema and Town Hall Theatre, with a lineup that places Irish cinema, international discovery and industry activity at the center of six days of screenings and events.
This year’s programme features 35 new Irish feature films, including 18 documentaries and four Irish-language productions, underlining the Fleadh’s continued importance as one of the most significant showcases for contemporary Irish filmmaking.
A Strong Platform for New Irish Cinema
The festival will open with the World Premiere of Our House, the feature debut of Peter Young. The thriller follows four siblings caught in conflict over the family home after the death of their mother, giving the 38th edition a distinctly Irish opening-night focus.
Among the other major World Premieres is You’ll Never Believe Who’s Dead, the debut feature from Dallan Shovlin. Described as a darkly comic story about a struggling family facing financial pressure, the film also brings together a notable ensemble cast that includes Ardal O’Hanlon, Stephen Rea, Michelle Fairley, Ruth Codd, Peter Claffey, Simone Kirby and Jacob McCarthy.
Additional Irish World Premieres in the programme include Terry Loane’s Faraway Home, Alex Fegan’s Murphy Vs Christmas, Sinéad Murphy’s Sludge and Dean Conway’s Conversations in Bed. Together, these titles show the range of voices and genres currently emerging from Ireland’s film landscape.
Documentaries Take a Central Role
Documentary filmmaking will be one of the defining strengths of this year’s Galway Film Fleadh. The programme includes films exploring politics, identity, sport, history and contemporary Irish life, confirming the festival’s role as a space where nonfiction cinema can connect local stories with broader cultural conversations.
Highlights include the Irish Premiere of Sinéad O’Shea’s Sundance title All About the Money, Cara Holmes’ Lesbian Lines, which looks at a confidential support line created for lesbians in the 1980s, and Ross McClean’s Magilligan, described as a portrait of a young man living with uncertainty.
Other Irish documentary titles include Ciara Hyland’s Pós Mé, James Wynne’s Star of the Sea and The S.U., which chronicles the history of the University of Galway Students’ Union. International documentary highlights will also bring audiences stories from Palestine, Estonia and the United States, including American Doctor, On Silver Heels and Joybubbles.
International Cinema, Genre Films and New Talent
Beyond the Irish lineup, the Galway Film Fleadh will once again use its programme to support international discovery. The Peripheral Visions competition returns with first and second features from emerging European filmmakers, with films from Finland, Switzerland, Belgium, France and Germany competing for the festival’s €3,000 prize.
Genre cinema will also have a strong presence through the What The Fleadh?! strand, which includes the Irish Premiere of Victorian Psycho, following its Cannes debut, the World Premiere of Irish horror title Feed, Cathal Fitzpatrick’s sci-fi feature Hollow Trees and John Spillane’s mockumentary The Badger of Ballybog.
The festival’s Turn It Up! music strand will present films connected to music culture across generations and genres, including stories linked to the Newport Folk Festival, Galway’s cello festival, John Prine and 1990s touring culture.
A special Spotlight on Estonia will also be part of the programme, presented as Galway’s cultural partnership with Estonia continues within Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union programme.
A Festival with Industry Weight
Alongside the public programme, the Galway Film Fair will again serve as a key meeting point for the screen industry, with panels, networking opportunities and events designed to encourage collaboration. The 2026 Film Fair includes the Fleadh Forum, with Sundance Senior Programmer and Director of Strategy John Nein announced as keynote speaker, as well as masterclasses, co-production discussions, networking events and a pitching competition.
For the industry, this balance is what makes Galway especially valuable. The Galway Film Fleadh is not only presenting finished films to audiences; it is also creating a practical space where filmmakers, producers, programmers and industry professionals can meet, exchange ideas and build future projects.
Shorts, Awards and a Milestone Screening
More than 130 Irish and international short films will screen during the festival, competing for the Fleadh’s Oscar®-qualifying short film awards. The festival will also present the Bingham Ray New Talent Award, recognizing emerging talent across acting, writing, directing, producing and cinematography.
A special live audio commentary event will mark the 10th anniversary of the Irish hit The Young Offenders, with writer-director Peter Foott joined by stars Alex Murphy, Chris Walley and Hilary Rose.
With new Irish features, documentaries, international discoveries, genre cinema, shorts and a packed industry programme, the 38th Galway Film Fleadh positions itself once again as one of Ireland’s most important film events. Its strength lies in the way it connects audience energy with industry purpose, offering a festival experience that celebrates cinema while actively supporting the people and projects shaping its future.
