The Kinvara Plein Air festival is an annual event, running since 2022 in the picturesque Kinvara village, on the Wild Atlantic Way and in the surrounding areas of South Co Galway and the Burren, Co .Clare. The festival is organised by members of Kinvara Area Visual Arts (KAVA) as a not-for-profit community arts event.
Kinvara Plein Air 2026 (KPA26) will be held over four days of the June bank holiday weekend, Friday 29 May – Monday 01 June.
The Kinvara Plein Air 2026 festival includes:
full day workshops (13) with a ten experienced plein air tutors, for artists working in oil, acrylic, watercolour or pastel.
an opportunity to paint with other artists in Kinvara and other locations within a 30 minute drive
daily paint-outs open to artists working in any medium, led by guest artists
a charity paint-out with prizes awarded
exhibitions of plein air art in the KAVA Courthouse
a chance to hear professional plein air artists talk about their approach to painting
an opportunity to exhibit and sell your work
social activities each day over the weekend
access to the hospitality and cultural life of the village of Kinvara
KPA26
Schedule Overview
(subject to amendment)
Thursday 28 May 2026
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Reception for Sponsors and Friends 7pm in Siar
Friday 29 May 2026
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Workshops 10am-4pm in various locations
Daily paint outs from 11 am - in designated locations
Guest artists in Conversation in the Courthouse: a facilitated panel discussion (5.30pm)
KPA artists’ gathering (Tully’s Beer Garden) 7.30pm (with wine and pizza)
Saturday 30 May 2026
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Workshops 10am-4pm - in various locations
Daily paint out from 11 am - in designated locations
KPA official opening (Kinvara Quay) 7.00pm
KPA Festival Dinner (Pier Head) 7.30pm
Sunday 31 May 2026
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Workshops 10am-4pm - in various locations
Daily paint out from 11 am - in designated locations
KPA Festival Club (Keogh’s Beer Garden) 7.30pm food served.
Monday 1 June 2026
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Charity Paint out from 10.30am
Display of artwork 2.30-3.30pm
Award of prizes 3.30pm
Wet Paint Exhibition Opening (KAVA Courthouse) 4pm
Fees for KPA26
KPA weekend pass (€40):
Payable by
all those attending workshops
those wanting to join daily paint outs only
Workshop fees (€60) per full day workshop
Guest Artists in conversation in the Courthouse (Friday@5.30pm): €15
KPA informal reception in Tully’s Beer Garden Friday @7.30pm, Free
KPA Dinner in Pier Head, Saturday @7.30pm €50
KPA Festival Club on , Sunday @ 7.30pm €20
Workshops must be booked in advance online, once registered for the weekend pass
You can register for the KPA26 weekend pass (for paint outs only) online or at the KPA Hub at the weekend .
Note that there is a limit to the total number of registered participants for KPA26.
Cancellation policy
The registration fee in non-refundable
A 50% refund will be made if you cancel your workshop booking by 1 March 2026.
A full refund will be made if you cancel your dinner or festival club bookings by 25 May, less a 10% administration fee.
All Kinvara Plein Air 2026 registrants will be provided with:
- a KPA weekend pass and lanyard
- an opportunity to be part of a creative painting community.
- an opportunity to submit a piece to the Wet Paint Exhibition in the KAVA Courthouse
- exhibition cards and d-rings for affixing to boards/panels
- a map of meet-up points for workshops and paint-outs
- access to a What’s App group for notifications and for your sharing work
- tickets for whatever events you have booked
