Pan Celtic Festival
The Pan Celtic Festival is an annual Celtic-language and culture event held in Ireland since 1971. It brings together six Celtic nations—Brittany, Cornwall, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Scotland, and Wales—each sending artists who have qualified through their own national contests. The festival features many arts competitions, including singing, dancing, songwriting, instrument playing, film making, and the International Song Contest, the highlight of the event.
History and purpose: The festival was formed in Killarney, County Kerry, by Con O’Connaill as a spring music festival to celebrate and promote modern Celtic languages and cultures. It was first called Gŵyl Gerdd Bach (Small Music Festival) and later renamed Pan Celtic Festival. The 1971 event included performers from Wales, Ireland and Brittany; by 1972 a six-nation format was established with the aim of showcasing Celtic languages and talents across the participating nations.
National selections: Each nation runs its own process to choose a representative for Pan Celtic:
- Brittany: Inter-Celtic Festival of Lorient
- Cornwall: Kan Rag Kernow
- Ireland: Comórtas Amhrán Náisiúnta (National Song Contest)
- Isle of Man: Arrane son Mannin
- Scotland: Fèis Pan Cheilteach – Alba (previously Royal National Mòd)
- Wales: Cân i Gymru
Host venues and winners: The festival is staged in various towns across Ireland, with County Kerry hosting most often. The International Song Contest has seen winners from Wales, Ireland, Cornwall, Scotland, Brittany, and the Isle of Man, with Wales holding the most wins to date.
The Pan Celtic Festival remains a celebration of Celtic languages and cultures, uniting communities from six nations through music, art and shared heritage.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 17:28 (CET).