Longford Lights! Crowds! Action! How to plan a visit for the iconic festival

Longford Lights 2026 returns to Longford Town from this Thursday, February 19 to Sunday, February 22 from 6.30pm to 9.30pm each evening, with thousands expected to attend Ireland’s largest community-based light and arts festival.

Within the main festival campus at Connolly Barracks, visitors will experience an illuminated journey and be entertained by larger-than-life art installations, many with interactive and performance elements.

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This year's event will feature 28 artworks based on the theme of ‘Lightly Playful’, staged around outdoor locations in Longford Town and Connolly Barracks.

Longford County Council and Mide Arts Group invites families and friends of all ages to get together and explore captivating art which is set to transform Longford’s county town.

One of the highlights of this year’s festival will be Ireland’s first ever Nighttime Illuminated Bicycle Parade- ‘Glow on the Go’.
Longford Lights has teamed up with artist Conor McCague, the Irish Wheelchair Association and the Heartland Wheelers Cycling Club to create a nighttime parade around Longford Town finishing at the festival venue.

The nighttime parade will take place on Friday, February 20 and Sunday, February 22 at 7.30pm from Connolly Barracks.

Display boards will be dotted throughout the festival and share information on the artists and the installations with the viewer.
Longford Lights tickets into the main festival site at Connolly Barracks are available on LongfordLights.ie. Entry times are at 6.30pm and 8pm. Once in, you can stay as long as you wish.

When you arrive, you should present your tickets on your phone. All tickets are €5 each. Under 3s are free.

Inspector Declan McGlynn said Longford Gardaí ‘are delighted to be involved with Arts Officer Shane Crossan and his team.

We fully recognise the hard work he has put into this event over the past five years. It is a great example of Longford County Council taking on new challenges and making a great success of them."

Traffic and Parking:
Heavy traffic is anticipated throughout Longford Town, particularly on Battery Road, Church Street and Lower Main Street. On-street parking will be limited, and the public are asked to use off-street public car parks and plan to walk the short distance to Connolly Barracks. Some of the nearest parking options include Longford County Council car parks on Great Water Street and at Camlin Court, the Longford Town Centre car park and Geraldine Terrace car park next to it, Main Street car park and the St Mel’s Road car park.

Accessibility:
Information on disabled car parking spaces and wheelchair facilities, are available on LongfordLights.ie under the Plan your Visit section. When you arrive, follow the directions of event stewards and Gardaí on site.
Longford Lights aims to be a sensory-friendly experience with ambient low-level soundscapes throughout. Please seek advice from one of the stewards if help is required.

Food and Refreshments:
Food will be on sale from vendors within the Connolly Barracks festival site. There are also restaurants and pubs serving food around Longford Town, many with special offers to coincide with the festival.

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Be weather-ready:
Please dress appropriately for seasonal February weather with good walking shoes and waterproofs, especially in the event of rain. The festival is predominantly outdoor and walking paths are mostly flat and suitable for buggies and wheelchairs.

Health and Safety:
Please follow Longford Lights festival stewards’ instructions when inside the venue. As festival stewards will be identifiable by high-visibility clothing, we would appreciate it if attendees avoided wearing high-visibility clothing.