Galway Oyster Festival 2026: The Perfect Sunday - Walk, Trad, Oysters & Your Own Pint

The Galway International Oyster Festival is back for 2026, and this year the closing Sunday has something special. Running from Friday 25th to Sunday 27th September 2026, the city hosts the world's longest-running oyster festival, and we've built a one-off experience to finish the weekend in style: a guided walk, a private trad session, fresh oysters, and a pint of Guinness you pour yourself.

If you're looking for things to do at the Galway Oyster Festival, here's your Sunday sorted.

The Galway Oyster Festival 2026, in short

Now in its 72nd year, the festival is a citywide celebration of oysters, seafood, live music and Galway hospitality. Saturday brings the famous World Oyster Opening Championship and the street crowds; Sunday winds down to a gentler pace. That's exactly where this experience fits in.

The intimate alternative to the Saturday crowds

While the big championship day is all buzz and bustle, our Sunday event gives you a proper hands-on taste of what the weekend is all about, without fighting through the crowds. Small group, big flavour, start to finish.

It starts with a walk

We kick off on foot with a 30-minute guided walk through the heart of Galway. Your local guide takes you through the streets, the stories and the character that make this city what it is, a great way to see Galway before you settle in.

A private trad session

From there it's into Monroe's, one of Galway's most-loved pubs, for a private traditional Irish music session played just for our group. No scrambling for a spot at a packed bar, this is a trad session with your name on it.

Oysters, shucked in front of you

September marks the start of the native oyster season, and there's no better weekend to taste them. You'll watch three fresh oysters shucked in front of you and taste them at their briny best, on the very weekend Galway crowns its oyster champions.

Pour your own pint of Guinness

Then you'll learn the proper way to pour a pint of Guinness, the two-part pour, the settle, the top-off, and pour your own. There's a real knack to it, and you'll leave knowing it.

A Polaroid to take home

On your way out, grab a Polaroid keepsake, a little piece of the festival weekend for the fridge.

The details

• When: Sunday 27 September 2026, closing day of the Galway Oyster Festival
• Where: Starts in Galway city centre, finishes at Monroe's
• Price: €45 per person
• Group size: 15–25 guests, small and social
• Age: Over-18s only (valid photo ID required)

The festival only comes once a year, and this experience only runs once. Spaces are capped at 25 — book your Sunday spot below.

[Book now →] https://www.strolltothestout.com/tours/galway-oyster-festival