Get Ready for LASTA!
LASTA 2026 Young Curators Festival Programme Launched –
Young Voices, Fresh Ideas and Creative Energy Take Centre Stage at Siamsa Tíre from 1–4 October
Siamsa Tíre is delighted to announce the 2026 LASTA Festival, a dynamic four-day celebration of creativity, culture and community, taking place from 1–4 October 2026. This year’s programme has been shaped by Young Curators Antonia Gergely and Neil Moore Ryan, who have created a diverse programme reflecting the interests, concerns and cultural influences of their generation.
Now in its sixth year, LASTA is a national festival created by young people, for young people, with eight arts venues across Ireland coming together to champion emerging voices, artists and ideas across the month of October. The festival began in 2020 with Backstage Theatre and has grown into a multidisciplinary programme encompassing theatre, music, film, visual art and participatory events.
Reflecting on their experience, Antonia and Neil said their programme came together by exploring “what we find is important to the audiences of today” and promoting talent that stands out to them. Their programme responds to themes including the resurgence of the Irish language, a return to analogue creativity, self-reflection and wellbeing, while also creating opportunities for people to connect through fashion, film and music.
A Festival of Creativity, Conversation and Connection
The Siamsa Tíre LASTA festival officially opens on Thursday 1 October at 7pm, with free entry for all ages. Visitors can explore Backspace, a visual arts exhibition celebrating young Irish artists and a return to analogue forms of creativity, alongside Ag Samhlú Saoile Eile, a bi-lingual (English/Irish) sound installation created through workshops with bilingual collective Scaoilte Theatre.
The theatre programme continues on Friday 2 October with Anonn, presented by Scaoilte Theatre. This bilingual one-person show explores grief, loss, death and the macabre through the story of Seoirse, who finds himself confronting the consequences of pretending to be a spirit medium. The production follows its award-nominated run at Dublin Fringe Festival 2026.
Saturday brings a relaxed and social programme, including a Vintage Pop-Up Shop from The Vintage Vault, offering quality used vintage clothing, followed by Piece of Mind, an interactive creative event exploring wellbeing and mental health in association with Jigsaw Kerry.
Film fans can also enjoy a screening of the acclaimed 1988 animated cyberpunk anime Akira by renowned Japanese director Katsuhiro Otomo on Saturday evening.
The festival concludes on Sunday 4 October with Tangent – Idea Generation Workshop, facilitated by Irish singer-songwriter Maria Kelly, encouraging participants to slow down, observe and find inspiration in their surroundings. An Art Therapy Workshop with art psychotherapist Rebecca Verrall follows, will offer participants an opportunity to explore self-compassion and creative expression.
The festival closes on Sunday at 7pm with a concert by acclaimed bilingual singer, songwriter and sean-nós artist AMANO, whose roots span Kerry and Kyūshū, Japan. Blending Irish sean-nós with contemporary folk, pop and electronic influences, AMANO’s debut nationwide tour features a masterful band of established artists—Brian Dillon, Dale McKay and Danny Groenland. Together, they offer a captivating journey through traditional Irish song, from haunting lullabies and raucous slip jigs to tales of love, beauty and pathos.
Alongside the main festival programme, Ag Samhlú Saoil Eile will be developed through a series of free theatre workshops for young people aged 16–24, exploring Irish language, mythology, the Otherworld and our relationship with nature in the context of the environmental crisis. Facilitated by Scaoilte Theatre the workshops will take place on 29th August, 5th and 19th September. The resulting work will be presented as a sound installation during the festival.
Angela Ryan Whyte, CEO Siamsa Tíre, said:
“LASTA is a wonderful example of what can happen when we genuinely give young people the space, trust and opportunity to shape the cultural programme they want to see. Antonia and Neil have brought enormous enthusiasm and imagination to their role as Young Curators, creating a programme that is varied, welcoming and reflective of the interests of their generation. We are delighted to support them and look forward to welcoming audiences to Siamsa Tíre for four days of creativity, conversation and connection.”
Antonia and Neil added, “Our goal is to bring people together at Siamsa Tíre, and to highlight the venue as a welcoming space to celebrate culture and community at every age.”
LASTA 2026 is part of a national network spanning eight venues: An Grianán Theatre, Backstage Theatre, Dunamaise Arts Centre, glór, Lime Tree Theatre, Pavilion Theatre, Siamsa Tíre and Town Hall Theatre Galway. Together, the venues champion the next generation of audiences, artists and programmers and create space for new voices to shape the cultural conversation.
With free exhibitions, theatre, workshops, film, fashion, wellbeing events and live music, LASTA 2026 offers something for everyone, whether you want to watch, participate, discover something new or simply spend time with your community.
LASTA Festival 2026 takes place at Siamsa Tíre from 1–4 October 2026.
For the full programme and booking information, visit siamsatire.com or download your LASTA Programme HERE
