Electric Picnic returns to Stradbally Hall in Co Laois from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 August, drawing 80,000 festival-goers for a weekend featuring more than 800 performances across 50 stages. Lewis Capaldi, Gorillaz, and Fontaines D.C. lead the lineup as Main Stage headliners, while Met Éireann forecasts an unsettled weekend requiring waterproof gear and mud-ready footwear.
Weather Outlook and Packing Essentials for Stradbally
According to Met Éireann’s latest meteorological outlook, festival-goers should pack for changing conditions, with Friday shaping up as the driest of the three days. Friday brings bright or sunny spells mixed with scattered showers—some potentially heavy or thundery—and temperatures reaching 18C to 23C. Saturday starts with low cloud and rain before clearing eastward for sunshine, showers, and a mostly dry evening with highs of 16C to 21C. Sunday currently projects as the wettest day, featuring persistent, heavy outbreaks of rain and temperatures ranging from 16C to 18C. Organizers advise bringing waterproofs, layers, and sturdy footwear.
Pro Tip: Don’t rely solely on your phone’s GPS near the venue. An Garda Síochána and festival organizers advise motorists to follow official event signage and garda directions rather than Google Maps or sat-nav due to local road closures and traffic diversions.
Main Stage Headliners and Daily Stage Times
Lewis Capaldi closes the Main Stage on Friday night following performances by JADE, Zara Larsson, and Sombr. Saturday’s bill features City Stages featuring Tinie Tempah, Role Model, The Mary Wallopers, and CMAT, before Gorillaz headline the night. Sunday’s programming includes the RTÉ Céilí Mór, Van Morrison, The Saw Doctors, Djo, and Amble, with Fontaines D.C. closing out the festival.
According to festival schedules, Main Stage timings are subject to change, and attendees are encouraged to check the official Electric Picnic app for real-time updates. Away from the main field, the Electric Arena and Rankins Wood host conflicting performances from acts including Wunderhorse, Wolf Alice, JPEGMAFIA, Loyle Carner, The Undertones, Damien Dempsey, and Skepta.
Exploring Freetown, GlowDepot, and Late-Night Districts
Beyond the primary arenas, the festival features expansive late-night and cultural programming. Freetown operates until 4:00 am, housing 14 distinct venues clustered around the Terminus dance space, which hosts DJs such as X Club, Interplanetary Criminal, Belters Only, MALUGI, Effy, and CamrinWatsin. New for 2026, GlowDepot introduces a forest stage blending emerging underground artists and Irish club culture with a lineup featuring NewEra, Sloucho, Ev Wilde, JenTen, and a King Kong Company DJ set.
Additional areas include Croí for wellbeing activities and acoustic music featuring Donal Lunny, Máirtín O’Connor, Zoe Conway, Eleanor McEvoy, John Francis Flynn, and Denise Chaila. MindField celebrates its 20th year with discussions, podcasts, and performances featuring Dylan Moran, Dawn O’Porter, Blindboy, Donie O’Sullivan, and Liam Cunningham, alongside a live Sunday morning broadcast of RTÉ Radio 1’s Brendan O’Connor Show.
Travel, Transport, and Arrival Guidelines
Drivers traveling from Dublin and the north should exit the M7 at Junction 16 and follow designated festival routes and Garda signage, according to the sources. Non-event traffic is asked to avoid Stradbally’s surrounding road network from Thursday morning through Monday afternoon. Marathon Coaches operates services from North Wall Quay in Dublin, while TravelMaster runs nationwide routes. Rail passengers can use Portlaoise or Portarlington stations, where shuttle buses run every 30 minutes on Friday and hourly through the weekend. General campsites open at 9:00 am on Friday 28 August, with Early Entry ticket holders permitted from 2:00 pm on Thursday 27 August.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the age policy for children at Electric Picnic?
The festival is strictly for attendees aged 18 and over, except for children aged 12 and under. Children aged 13 to 17 are not permitted, even with an adult. Children 12 and under enter free without a ticket when accompanied by a ticket-holding parent or guardian, with a maximum of two children per adult.
Are cash payments accepted at the festival?
No. According to the sources, all bars, food stalls, and market traders operate on a strictly cashless basis.
What are the alcohol limits for the campsites?
Attendees are permitted to bring a maximum of 48 cans, two bottles of wine decanted into non-glass containers, or one bottle of spirits decanted into a non-glass container per person into the campsites. Glass bottles are banned across the entire site.
Where can I charge my phone if the battery dies?
Power-bank rental machines are available in the Late Night Arena, Jimi Hendrix campsite, and Samuel Beckett campsite, as well as at designated AIR Hubs that also offer charging and Wi-Fi access.
For more updates and to plan your personalized schedule, download the official Electric Picnic app and explore the full lineup across all 50 stages.