Momentum Festival Is Pulling Big Energy to Galway This May — and the Lineup Is Already Turning Heads

Festival News | 23rd Dec, 2025

There’s a new festival on the west coast, and it’s not easing its way in quietly. Momentum Festival is arriving in Oranmore this May bank holiday weekend with serious intent — and if the first wave of artists is anything to go by, it’s coming in loud, proud, and ready to make memories.

Running from May 1st to May 4th, 2026, this four-day celebration of Irish music, culture, and connection is shaping up to be one of the most exciting new additions to the country’s live scene.

Friday Night Belongs to Legends and Local Heroes

Opening night is already stacked with heart and heritage. Irish rock royalty The Stunning will headline Friday, bringing decades of anthems with them. They’ll be joined by indie favourites The Riptide Movement, whose emotional punch and stadium-ready sound have made them one of the country’s most enduring modern acts.

Adding something special to the mix is Galway’s own Tracy Bruen, whose intimate, atmospheric songwriting feels perfectly suited to a hometown festival moment.

Sunday Brings Chart Power and Rising Stars

Sunday shifts gears into contemporary chart territory, with Dublin heavyweights The Coronas stepping up as headliners. Few Irish bands can match their ability to turn a crowd into a full-voice choir — and expect nothing less here.

They’ll be supported by two of the most talked-about rising artists in Ireland right now. Oscar Blue arrives fresh off the buzz surrounding his debut album Birds In Winter, landing in April, while soul-pop newcomer Calum Agnew is building momentum of his own, with his debut EP dropping very soon. Catch them now, before they’re filling rooms twice the size.

Nostalgia, Throwbacks, and a Saturday Mystery

Saturday’s full lineup is still under wraps, but the organisers have already teased a serious nostalgia hit. Expect throwback gold from B*witched, D:Ream, Rednex, and Mark McCabe — a promise of pure 90s and 00s chaos in the best possible way.

And just when you think it’s over, Monday will bring a specially curated closing programme — details still incoming, but expectations are high.

The Crescendo Tent: Where It All Happens

Every performance will take place inside The Crescendo Tent at Ard na Mara — a purpose-built live space with a 4,200-person capacity. Designed to keep the energy high and the connection close, this tent is set to become the beating heart of the weekend.

A Festival Built for Place, People, and Forward Motion

Set along the edge of Galway’s stretch of the Wild Atlantic Way, Momentum isn’t just about the lineup — it’s about the atmosphere. The organisers are leaning into community, culture, and that uniquely west-of-Ireland magic that turns gigs into something bigger.

With a growing local audience and strong pull for visitors, Momentum is positioning itself as more than just another date on the calendar — it’s aiming to become a cornerstone of Ireland’s live music future.

The Essentials

Tickets on sale now from www.momentumfestival.ie

This is an over-18s event, so bring ID — and bring stamina.

Photo Credit: Amplify Agency