Roads closed and gates opening for biggest ever Forest Fest
Oooh it’s all about to kick off in Emo county Laois for the biggest Forest Fest yet
Thousands of music fans are descending on Laois this Friday, as gates open for 2026 Forest Fest in Emo.
Gates are opening at 2pm for general ticket holders, and there are still some last minute tickets on sale for the festival , which has jumped in capacity by a third this year to 16,000 fans.
Campers who arrived on Thursday had their own exclusive entertainment last night.
The road through Emo village is already closed, from Kennel Cross to New Inn Roundabout , as it runs alongside the new enlarged site of Forest Fest. There is however local access from Kennel Cross to Emo Village and from New Inn Roundabout to L7160 Emo Park road Junction (Coolaha Area).
The R422 will also be closed from Morrett road to the L7160 Emo Park road with no local access, with access for emergency vehicles only. The access road to car parking, pick up drop off areas will be closed from Old Pound to the R422 Junction. There will be local access allowed from Old Pound to Sheepstown Junction.
Organisers have some last minute updates.
“Grab your gear, cue the road trip playlist, and we will see you all down at Bee’s Wing Farm in Emo Village very soon.
“If you have fence-sitting friends who are experiencing major FOMO right now, this is their absolute final warning: Friday & Sunday Day Tickets: There are still a few final tickets left , but they are moving at lightning speed. Tell them to stop waiting and lock them in right now before they are completely gone!
“Safe travels on your way down, get those camps set up, and let’s make this the best weekend of the summer,” they say.
Friday night is headlined by Echo & The Bunnymen at 10.20pm, coinciding with the release of a new song.
Ahead of their performance are The Charletans, The Wedding Present, The Chameleons, Dea Matrona, and Dylan Flynn & the Dead Poets. The night is rounded off in Abba style with Bjorn Again playing from after 12.20 to 1.20pm.
The festival has seven stages in all this year including a huge new country music covered stage and dancefloor, along with family entertainment, food and beer tent and vendors and much more.