Wainfest 2026 - Donegal's Arts and Book Festival for Children

What to Expect

Wainfest is Donegal’s arts and book festival for children, run each October by the Donegal County Council Library Service. The 2026 edition runs from Saturday 10 October to Saturday 17 October and marks the festival’s 30th anniversary, which the council has flagged as a milestone year for the programme.

The festival is spread across the county’s library branches and partner venues rather than being tied to a single site, so towns from Letterkenny and Buncrana to Carndonagh, Milford, Ballyshannon, Bundoran and the Rosses typically get their own events. One strand already confirmed for October 2026 is Mischief and Mystery in Moominvalley, programmed under Donegal County Council’s cultural programme for Ireland’s EU Presidency, which runs from July to November 2026 and has a strong Polish and Irish focus. The full Wainfest line up is released closer to the time on the Culture Division website, and events are usually booked through individual library branches.

Good to Know

• Saturday 10 October to Saturday 17 October 2026.
• 30th anniversary edition.
• Events run at library branches and partner venues across County Donegal.
• Programme released nearer the festival on donegalculture.ie; booking is normally through individual branches.
• Mischief and Mystery in Moominvalley is confirmed as part of the 2026 programme.
• Culture Division contact: 074 91 53900 or culturedivision@donegalcoco.ie.

Getting There

Because Wainfest runs countywide, check which branch is hosting the event you want before you travel. Central Library in Letterkenny is on Oliver Plunkett Road in the town centre, a short walk from the bus centre and the main car parks. Buncrana, Carndonagh, Milford, Ballyshannon, Bundoran and Twin Towns libraries are all in their town centres with parking nearby, and most are served by Local Link or Bus Eireann routes from Letterkenny.