Mary Robinson and Harrison Gardner coming to Laois Climate Carnival
Climate Carnival returning to Laois with former Irish president Mary Robinson and eco building activist Harrison Gardner
A festival for climate activists is returning to Laois for year two, and just like the planet, it's heating up.
The Climate Carnival 2026, hosted by Laois County Council in Ballintubbert House gardens, is holding a sauna session for 50 people at the traditional Finnish outdoor sauna in the Cosby estate, Stradbally including river bathing.
The sauna kicks off the two day festival that aims to stir up real climate action by the big changemakers in societies.
Climate Carnival #2 - From Silos to Systems is returning for two midweek days this September 15 and 16 at Ballintubbert House in Laois.
Described as an event “where ideas, leaders and solutions converge”, its special guests this year include former Irish president and global leader Mary Robinson, and Aussie eco-builder, broadcaster and author Harrison Gardner.
Music performers lined up so far include former Mary Walloper and activist Seán McKenna, Jerry Fish, Lisa Murray, Mol Goggers, Three Rod Wale, Jack McHugh and Lírnan.
Speakers for the sauna trip include science communicator and fisheries expert Ken Whelan, Daragh Morgan adventure athlete with Swim Éire, and Clair McDonald landscape architect and historical geographer.
That evening, a Climate Dinner Club will offer beautiful food in a marquee in what are Ireland’s only certified organic gardens. Esteemed speakers are Mary Robinson, Harrison Gardner and Tom Popple, the Laois man who is CEO and founder of Be Impactful: Climate Cocktail Club.
On Day 2, expect up to 1,000 attendees, over 40 world-class speakers, live music and workshops.
The organisers describe what the gathering is about.
“Climate Carnival is not a conference. Not a networking drinks. It's a two-day collision of the people who actually move the dial: business leaders, policymakers, scientists, activists, artists. Built on four interconnected systems - Ocean, Food, Habitats, Culture - across fourteen acres of organic gardens at Ballintubbert House in Co. Laois.
“You spend the day crossing between stages, seeing how food policy threads into resilient communities, how ocean health affects what we grow, how culture shapes what communities will actually do.
“You leave with real connections and frameworks your organisation can use- not laminated values posters, but ideas you can actually act on. Business leaders sit cheek-and-jowl with changemakers, solutionists, peers and grassroots activists,” say the organisers.
Over 500 attended the first Climate Carnival in Laois a year ago, calling it "inspiring, energising, thought-provoking, catalytic".
Guests and speakers included Blindboy, Hector O Heochagain, Jerry Fish, Liam O Maonlaí, Laois born chef Darina Allen and gardener Kitty Scully and RTÉ ecologist Anja Murray.
Charles Preston, co-owner of Ballintubbert House told the Leinster Express at the first carnival “this event is something we're in awe of. Laois is today at the centre of its climate action week”.
Tickets for Climate Carnival #2 are now on sale. Prices start from €50 for the sauna trip and €125 for the dinner, up to €2,350 for a team of 10 for the weekend. There are discounts for students and camping spots for an additional fee. It takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 15 and 16.