When Next We Meet raises the bar once again!

Clonmel’s boutique festival truly hit its stride for its 2026 edition. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Raheen House in Clonmel, the 5th instalment of the When Next We Meet festival marked a major milestone for the independent Tipperary event. This year, the festival became a three-day coming together. Known for its intimate atmosphere and meticulously curated lineups, the festival's walled gardens provided a unique setting that seamlessly hosted fast-rising domestic acts and internationally renowned headliners.

The friday night expansion was marked by a community-focused soft launch. It was an opening that perfectly set the tone for the days ahead, culminating in a high-energy headline set from the brilliant BABYRAT. Saturday leaned heavily into the festival's intimate, independent ethos, especially over at the Hidden Gems stage. One of my favourite moments was seeing festival producer Kate Twohig and her partner Eoin perform under the moniker, In Lieu of Flowers. It was really special watching the organizers step out of their logistical roles for 40 minutes or so and onto the stage to share their own music with the crowd they brought together.

Over on the main stage, Saturday delivered in a big way. Festival favourite Eve Whelan kicked the day off. Followed by Roisin El Cherif and my favourite performance of the day: The Wran. The Waterford trad-fusion band brought a massive, fresh energy to their set that was an absolute joy to shoot. From there, the crowd were ready for thier headline set from Mick Flannery and Susan O'Neill. Their combined vocal presence captivated the entire walled garden.

Over the years, I've come away from the festival with some new favourite artists and this year was no different. Rising Tipp/Cork outfit MDR hit the stage Sunday to a dedicated fanbase; it was my first time catching them live, but with that kind of electric crowd connection, it definitely won’t be my last. These guys sounded unreal and whatever 'it' is... they have it. They were followed by great performances by Jukebox Gypsy and MOXIE before the weekend ended on a truly surreal note with The Waterboys closing out the festival. Watching the band ring out anthems like "The Whole of the Moon" across a field in Clonmel felt like a massive milestone for both the festival and everyone lucky enough to be in the crowd.

Overall it was another brilliant year, there is always so much to see and do at the festival and thankfully the weather also played its part. I'm already looking forward to next years edition! Congrats to the whole When Next We Meet Team!