Join Pittsburgh's BRIGID Festival 2026 in support of Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh.

The Irish Partnership of Pittsburgh brings its silver award-winning celebration to the New Hazlett Theater this January for a musical showcase of tradition and light. This year, the festivities grow into a 14-day cultural program featuring whiskey tastings and traditional crafts to support local women in need.

The team at the Irish Partnership of Pittsburgh, the umbrella organization of the Pittsburgh Irish  Festival, is pleased to announce the return of BRIGID, a musical celebration of the Celtic Goddess and Patron  Saint of Ireland. BRIGID is taking place on Saturday, January 17, 2026 at the New Hazlett Theater. This year’s celebration will span two weeks, including a St. Brigid’s Cross-making night, poetry night, whiskey tasting, bonfire, and more. 

Join Pittsburgh's BRIGID Festival 2026 in support of Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh.

The event, BRIGID, which continues to receive support from the Government of Ireland’s Irish Emigrant  Support Programme, will once again celebrate Brigid the Saint, Brigid the Goddess. This will be a celebration of Irish and Celtic women, of light and springtime, and of Irish and Celtic culture, including its history, present, and future.

In 2023, the event was named “Best New Event,” and in both 2023 and  2024, BRIGID received a Bronze Award for that year’s “Best Overall Event” from the International Festival and Events Association (IFEA) and was elevated to the Silver Award in 2025.

Mairin Petrone, Executive Director of the Irish Partnership of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Irish Festival, said, “The primary mission of BRIGID is to create awareness of Brigid, patron saint of Ireland and Celtic goddess, as  well as to celebrate women in all facets of society and culture.” 

Eileen Ivers and The Brigideens.

Who was Brigid? 

St. Brigid is one of Ireland’s three patron saints. She is celebrated annually in Ireland on St. Brigid’s Feast Day on February 1, also known as Imbolc. Imbolc marks the beginning of Spring in Ireland, a movement from darkness into light.

St. Brigid is the Patron Saint of poetry, beer, midwives, newborns, Irish nuns,  blacksmiths, dairymaids, boatmen, learning, healing, protection, chicken farmers, cattle, scholars, sailors, and more. Brigid was also a Celtic goddess, a fire goddess, and the goddess of spring, light, life, fertility,  physicians, and many others. 

Event headliner Eileen Ivers said of BRIGID, "Looking forward to being a part of BRIGID 2026 with so many wonderful artists. We had such a blast at the last three BRIGID Celebrations... [this year] will surely be another magical night celebrating the life and light of one of Ireland's beloved patron saints, St. Brigid.

Ally the Piper.

Performers lined up for BRIGID 2026 include: 

  • Grammy®-Awarded and Emmy-Nominated fiddle player, Eileen Ivers and The Brigideens
  • Ally the Piper, social media famous, multi-instrumentalist, and singer with a specialty in bagpipes. Ally is, by far, the most-followed bagpiper on social media.
  • Meadhbh Walsh (pronounced “Maeve”) started busking at 14 and built a massive online following, collaborating with Irish acts, touring internationally (US, Dubai, UK), and gaining a #1 album, showcasing her emotive performances and growing confidence as a rising star in Irish music. 
  • Ladies of Longford, celebrating over 23 years of their special brand of music, serve up a unique blend of Contemporary Celtic, Traditional Irish, and fresh acoustic styles.
  • Special guest, Leah Rankin, one of the leading cellists playing traditional Irish music today. She has played alongside some of the most reputable musicians in the Irish music world and has appeared on close to a dozen albums across a variety of genres.
  • Bell School of Irish Dance
  • Shovlin Academy of Irish Dance 

Two weeks of BRIGID programming will include: 

1/17 – BRIGID: A Musical Celebration 

1/22 – St. Brigid’s Cross Making at the Irish Design Center 

1/30 – Women and Whiskey at Love, Katie Distilling 

Date TBD – Bonfire at The Pump House (Rivers of Steel) 

Several dates – Children’s programming at local schools 

Date and Location TBD – Poetry Night (St. Brigid is the Patron Saint of Poetry) 

Date TBD – BRIGID Ceili 

Tickets for BRIGID are on sale at brigidpgh.com. The event is expected to sell out, so the organizers recommend getting your tickets early. In the spirit of St. Brigid, a portion of the event proceeds will support the Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh.