Imagine Arts Festival

At the core of the 25th-anniversary program are the festival's artist-in-residence and commissioned artist initiatives. In a first for the event, the residency week will be conducted entirely in Irish (Gaeilge), showcasing new collaborative works from musicians and writers. The festival hub serves as a central point for visitors to experience specially commissioned musical pieces and immersive installations designed to mark the quarter-century milestone.

Public performances include a variety of formats, such as immersive circus-theatre productions and a lunchtime theatre series featuring new one-act plays by local writers. The musical lineup includes album launches and live performances spanning multiple genres. A signature event for the closing night is a citywide live performance trail that moves through various local establishments.

Supported by the Waterford City and County Council, the festival is designed to foster creativity and showcase local talent while driving footfall to the city center. Key venues for the 2026 edition include Bank Lane, St Patrick's Gateway, and the main Festival Hub, which hosts both scheduled performances and walk-in artistic experiences.