HearSay26 7th-10th May is Booked Out [JOIN THE WAITLIST]

[HearSay26 is now booked out. A waitlist is in operaton and a small number to tickets will be released in the last week of April. Join the Waitlist via eventbrite HERE ]

The premise of HearSay26 is simple - a gathering of the worlds finest audio creators in an Irish mountain village to nourish our sense of possibility and to inspire Creative Audio in all its forms.

After a break for renewal, the HearSay International Audio Festival once again brings together international award-winning contributors and those breaking new ground from all disciplines of creative audio; radio features, podcasts, film sound, sound art, theatre, and audio fiction to foster collaboration & imagination.

See the 2019 Programme of Events here to get a sense of the magic of HearSay.

Seventeen Venues in our home village from living rooms and chapels to hairdressers and gardens, will host deep dives into the craft of creative audio, thoughtful reflections, powerful provocations, unique experiments, surprising encounters, creative challenges, immersive experiences, tea and scones.

HearSay means passion and free-flowing inspiration with no name badges rooted in a real sense of community There will be over 100 events in a joyful gathering of audio adventurers from an expected 30 countries. (HearSay is truly international with over 75% of Multi-day "Immerse" Passes for our last physical festival taken up attendees from outside Ireland).

Thank you to our amazing crew, passionate contributors, open-hearted participants and the people of Kilfinane for making Audio Heaven possible.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What tickets are available.

Regular "Immerse" Passes are 150 euros plus booking fee

Special "Sustainable Travel -Immerse" passes are discounted for those travelling to Ireland by Sea (110 euros plus booking fee) to reduce our gatherings carbon footprint.

"Give what you can - Immerse" Passes make sure that HearSay is accessible for those on low incomes for a donation of 40-140 euros.

There will also be special "Engage" and "Discover" passes for those living locally.

Will there be VIP access Passes for sale soon?

No. Everyone crosses the threshold to HearSay equally human, equally valuable and equally important. To be here is to access joy and connection. There are no name badges and no inner circles. There is no pay for access only an invitation of access your own sense of curiosity.

Do I need an invitation to register for HearSay26?

No. we have made coming to HearSay much simpler, and more transparent. You simply book your place at HearSay26 by registering for an HearSay26 "Immerse" Pass.

What thinking went into the fixed fee for a HearSay26 "Immerse Pass"

HearSay is fiercely independent, but as a result we operate on a tiny budget, with a huge amount of goodwill. We've reduced the cost of an "Immerse" pass in 2026 to serve our community in a time of economic challenge while the fee will help to make HearSay sustainable on an ongoing basis.

I cannot afford to pay the fixed fee. Can I still come? (Making HearSay26 Accessible)

We recognise that there are some who will struggle financially with the fixed fee.

We want to ensure HearSay remains accessible. Therefore, 25% of the HearSay26 “Immerse” Passes are offered on a "Give only what you can afford" model. These are full HearSay26 “Immerse” passes but on a donation basis where you choose what you can afford BETWEEN 40 Euro and 140 Euro

These places are explicitly aimed at ensuring HearSay remains accessible and inclusive to

• low-income earners or those not earning an income at all.
• those who would find it difficult to meet very high long-haul costs of travel (from countries like Australia or Argentina (excluding North America & Europe) to Ireland and a full price Festival pass.

If you have any questions drop an email to contact@hearsayfestival.ie

If you can afford it, please make HearSay sustainable by paying for a fixed cost HearSay19 “Immerse” Pass.

Will there be any difference between what I can do at HearSay26 if I get a Fixed Fee "Immerse" Pass or a "Sustainable Travel Immerse" Pass or a "Give only What you Can Afford Immerse Pass?

Absolutely not. All will give you the same access to all events, experiences and encounters in the main programme. Only the amount you contribute to making HearSay sustainable changes.

Those who give what they can will NOT be identified any differently (e.g wristband colour etc will be the same)

I'm entering the HearSay Audio Prize 2026 - What happens if I win and I've already registered?

Thats wonderful, best of luck and don't worry! If you end up winning one of the awards for the HearSay Audio Prize, you will be reimbursed what you will have paid for your "Immerse" pass and receive a PrizeWinners pass. Your flight from anywhere in the world to HearSay will be paid/re-reimbursed so you can attend the Awards Ceremony. You will be provided with up to a weeks accommodation and more. See here for more on the HearSay Audio Prize

Can I pitch an idea to the HearSay26 Programme?

Yes if you have attended HearSay before in any capacity (Crew, Attendee, Contributor) - "You know HearSay, You know Kilfinane, anything is possible". See here  to see closing dates and how to pitch.

If you are successful with your programme pitch, you will receive accommodation at HearSay and other supports and will be given the choice to have cost of your HearSay26 pass reimbursed (in full or part) or donated forward.

What's the refund and Transfer policy?

There are no refunds. However Fixed Fee "Immerse" Passes may be transferred to another person up until 30th April 2026.

"Pay what you can afford" cannot be transferred but in the case of personal crisis, please contact us at contact@hearsayfestival.ie. The person who is registered should be the person who attends.

I love HearSay and want to see it succeed - can I become a sponsor or partner?

Thank you so much. You will help make audio heaven just that little more possible. If you would like to become a partner of HearSay please drop a line to diarmuid@hearsayfestival.ie

I'm from the Kilfinane area - Can I come to HearSay26?

Yes. Yes. Yes. HearSay is a coming together of two communities: The International Creative Audio community and the Ballyhoura Community centred on the village of Kilfinane. A Special HearSay26 Pass - the HearSay26 "Engage" pass will be uniquely available to local people (those living within 8 Kilometres of Kilfinane).

The HearSay26 "Engage" Pass will be similar to the Immerse Pass and will give you access to all events, experiences and encounters in the main programme. Details of how local people can secure HearSay26 “Engage” passes and participate in events will be circulated locally prior to the Festival.

There will also be a HearSay26 – “Discover” Pass for a small set of pop-up events and encounters within the programme. These events will be marked “Discover” and will be open to all on either a “Free of Charge” or “Give what you wish” basis.

Are there ID or minimum age requirements for HearSay?

No - though some individual events in the main programme may be age restricted. In Ireland the minimum age for consumption of Alcohol is 18 years of age. Much of the HearSay26 Programme is aimed at adults over 18 years of age but younger adults especially those interested in sound or storytelling may also gain much from the events.

HearSay takes places throughout our village. On check-in at the Welcome Desk (open from 3pm on Thursday 7th May till lunchtime Sunday 10th) you'll be issued with a wristband which will give you access to all events and venues for the duration of HearSay26.

What are my transport options for getting to and from HearSay26?

Kilfinane is just an hour away from both Shannon (near Limerick City) and Cork International Airports and three hours from Dublin Airport.

Happily since our last physical festival there are now strong bus connections with Limerick City (45 minutes) with 8 buses Monday to Saturday and 5 on Sunday in both directions.

There are also local buses.

During the Festival, the HearSay Bus will also serve accomodation options in the surrounding villages during the festival. There is free parking with designated parking areas throughout the Village. Car hire from the airports can be very affordable at that time of year.

What should I bring to HearSay?

All events and encounters are within a few hundred metres of each other. We do recommend a pop up umbrella just in case it rains - but rain never lasts long and you can always stay in the venue you are in and engage something unexpected. Some spaces out of respect for those offering them to HearSay will have restrictions on food and drink.

HearSay is an audio festival so a recorder if you have one can be useful for encounters but is not critical. Some events can be made even better with your own pair of headphones. Walking shoes/boots are also recommended for the sound related outdoor events.

Do I have to bring my printed registration to HearSay?

Please do. It would really speed up things at the welcome desk. Alternatively you can bring it on the screen of your phone or with the Eventbrite App.

Can I update my registration information?

Yes you can - we appreciate that an email address can change or in a rush you made a typing error.

Can I contact the organising team with any questions?

Of course, we would be delighted to hear from you. Get in touch via email contact@hearsayfestival.ie or via social media DMs open @hearsayfestival.ie - Please be patient with us as we have a very small team running HearSay on a not for profit basis.

See you in Kilfinane in May!

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