Beyond the Pale Festival 2026
The Global Solidarity Hub debuted at the Beyond the Pale Festival in June, bringing together a vibrant programme centred on solidarity, connection, creativity, conversation, and cultural engagement at Glendalough Estate, Co. Wicklow, on 12-14 June, 2026. Over 2,000 festivalgoers out of the 12,000 in attendance joined in the Hub’s weekend-long programming.
Curated by Sightsavers Ireland, Trócaire, and GOAL, and supported by Irish Aid, the Hub brings together leading voices in global development and invites festivalgoers to explore global justice issues through interactive workshops, performances, storytelling, music, and shared cultural experiences, integrated into Beyond the Pale’s vibrant arts and culture programme.
Designed as a welcoming and creative space within the festival, the Hub featured performances, activities, and discussions centred on themes such as global citizenship, disability inclusion, climate justice, youth participation, and international solidarity.
Background
Now entering it’s fifth year, Beyond the Pale has become known for combining music, arts, wellness, and immersive cultural experiences in the woodland surroundings of Glendalough Estate. The festival’s expanding arts and culture programme provided a fitting home for the Global Solidarity Hub, expanding the Hub in a new direction and adding another event to its annual programme.
The festival creates a unique opportunity for people to connect, reflect, and engage with new ideas in a space where conversations around inclusion, equality, and global citizenship can happen in a creative and accessible way.
Volunteer and Campaigns Manager at Trócaire, Jennifer Flynn, spoke about the success of connecting with festivalgoers:
“Festivals are all about connection, energy, and shared experience, and the Global Solidarity Hub at Beyond the Pale channels that energy into a space of activity and interaction around global justice, through performances, workshops, and cultural experiences for creative engagement. Turning global issues into something accessible and alive in the moment. Engaging 2,168 festivalgoers at this bespoke event through our workshops, performances, and activations reminds us that we are far more connected than divided.”
Programme Highlights
The Global Solidarity Hub featured a vibrant programme of music, workshops, storytelling and cultural experiences across the weekend. Highlights included solidarity patch-making workshops with Taz Kelleher of The Useless Project, identity and storytelling sessions with award-winning author and Black & Irish founder Leon Diop, and an interactive workshop led by activist and Saved By The Sign founder Lydia Gratis exploring communication, identity, and culture through sign and movement.
Festivalgoers also availed of cultural workshops with Thaís Muniz and Tura Arutura, alongside reflection sessions on nature and biodiversity led by Gracie Mahady and Melanie Lynch and Solidarity-tees creation with BiPolarBear Wear.
Live performances throughout the weekend featured artists including RTÉ Choice Music Prize nominee JyellowL, Cork hip-hop artist Salamay, Paris-based performer Celaviedmai, Geneva-based performers Vee Mukarati and Dantong Wang, Fortune Igiebor and Saibhin. Irish Sign Language interpretation was available for workshops to foster the inclusive environment the Hub promotes. Watch the video below to learn more about the Hub’s weekend in Glendalough, connecting with the Irish public.
Growing Public Appetite for Global Citizenship Connection
The Global Solidarity Hub has previously appeared at major public engagement events and festivals across Ireland, creating spaces where people can connect with global issues in accessible and engaging ways. Its debut at Beyond the Pale reflects a growing appetite for festival experiences that combine creativity, culture, and social awareness and was hailed as “ one of the weekend’s most rewarding additions, hosting talks, workshops, performances and cultural events that encouraged connection and reflection without ever feeling worthy or preachy” by Hotpress Magazine in their Beyond the Pale weekend report.