Be a Part of HearSay

HearSay26 will take place over 4 days from 6pm Thursday May 7th to 2pm on Sunday May 10th 2026.

We'd love you to join us. We're keeping numbers smaller as gather in deep connection and renew our sense of possibility.

."Immerse" Festival Passes which are for all four days of the festival and to all 80+ events and encounters open for booking from 4pm Irish Time on Thursday 12th February 2026 on Eventbrite. 

You can find out more here

Since 2014, the HearSay Audio Prize has attracted entries from every corner of the globe, infused with the adventurous spirit of HearSay. They were, by turns, sonically experimental, exquisitely simple, deliciously intimate, and above all inspirational. Our winners have been veterans and novices, sound artists, film-makers and documentary makers, students and podcasters. They've come from all around the world: Argentina, Israel, United States, Australia, Denmark, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom.

For 2026, we are inviting entries of short form audio works created specifically for the HearSay Audio Prize, in the spirit of exploration and inspiration. 

The openness of the criteria (all forms, any content) is balanced with the constraint of time (maximum 7 minutes), providing the perfect creative challenge. Surprise yourself.

Student/ Early Bird Deadline: Friday 27th February 2026 at 4pm (IST/GMT)

FINAL Deadline: Thursday 12th March at 2400 hours - Midnight (IST/GMT)

Find out more here

At HearSay26, an expected 80 events and encounters will take place over 4 days from 6pm Thursday May 7th to 2pm Sunday May 10th 2026. These will range from deep insights into the craft of creative audio, to experiences with sound at their core. HearSay offers possibilities for playful experimentation, intriguing collaborations, and fresh conversations. 

Some of our richest and most unexpected ideas have come from our open calls. We are inviting anyone who has been at HearSay before, in any capacity, to pitch an idea for the HearSay26 programme. The Call is now CLOSED 

You’ll find more details here.

The whole festival is a labour of love. It's a huge undertaking on a tiny budget and it could not take place without a monumental effort by the HearSay voluntary crew drawn from local Kilfinane people and visiting participants from across Ireland and around the world! Being part of the crew means dedicating a significant amount of your time at the festival to supporting events and attendees, it’s also a fantastic opportunity to get right under the skin of HearSay26 and help to make it happen. 

If you’re ready to join our merry band (yaaay!!)  you’ll find more information  on the other side of this link.

[applications close 19th February]

This sonic rewilding is a sustainable process, we are planting seeds we hope to grow for years to come. If you can’t make it to Kilfinane for this May’s festival, we’ll miss you. But could we be so bold as to suggest a contribution toward the future of HearSay might be the next best thing? You can show your support HearSay at this link: paypal.me/hearsayfestival

Thank you so much!