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AFestivalOf
Visual
Storytelling

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11th - 13th Sept 2026

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A speech bubble outlined in black, red, blue, yellow, and green on a white background. The overlapping lines create a colourful, multi-layered effect—perfect for capturing the energy of the Kilkenny Animated Festival.Events 2026

What’s on

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Screenings

Check out exciting free events at the Kilkenny Animated Festival!

 

Workshops

We have engaging workshops available just for you.

Pathways

Watch a great selection of films and short films.

Sketching Tours

Join us for Sketching Tours, where creativity comes to life!

A speech bubble outlined in black, red, blue, yellow, and green on a white background. The overlapping lines create a colourful, multi-layered effect—perfect for capturing the energy of the Kilkenny Animated Festival.Key Sponsors

Fáilte Ireland logo featuring a green shamrock surrounded by two circular brushstrokes, one green and one light blue, with the words "Fáilte Ireland" in bold green text on the right—perfect for events like the Kilkenny Animated Festival.
Kilkenny County Council logo featuring a red and black abstract symbol above a black and white shield, with text in Irish and English. This emblem often appears at events like the Kilkenny Animated Festival.
Black and white Cartoon Saloon logo; the words "Cartoon Saloon" are written in bold, playful, rounded letters with overlapping “t” and “l”, echoing the creative spirit seen at the Kilkenny Animated Festival.
The image shows the logo for Light House Studios, featuring a stylised blue "L" shape next to the words "LIGHT HOUSE STUDIOS" in bold blue letters on a white background, known for participating in events like the Kilkenny Animated Festival.
A boy wearing headphones stands in front of a microphone, speaking or singing, as a bearded man in a cap adjusts the mic in a studio with a green screen background at the Kilkenny Animated Festival.

Kilkenny Animated

A Celebration
of Creativity in Animation

Kilkenny Animated is a small animation festival with a big appetite for visual storytelling.


Set in the medieval heart of Kilkenny, it brings animation lovers, curious creatives and industry folk together to engage, share, connect and inspire. 

The programme is focused and immersive, shaped by craft, conversation and a belief that creativity works best in good company.

read more
Buy Tickets
Two men sit on stage at the Kilkenny Animated Festival in front of a screen displaying "A Festival of Visual Storytelling." One holds papers while the other speaks and gestures, both dressed in casual clothing.

Meet Our
Speakers & Panelists

festival lineup

A woman with long dark hair, wearing a grey jumper, looks to the side while drawing or painting on a canvas in a green, indoor setting—capturing the creative spirit often seen at the Kilkenny Animated Festival.

Amandine Cayla

Nate is Late • Rick and Morty

A person with wavy hair looks at the camera while sitting indoors, with leafy plants in the background. The image, reminiscent of creative moments at Kilkenny Animated Festival, has a strong red filter.
A person with long, wavy pink hair and light make-up looks at the camera. They are indoors with green plants and framed art in the background—a scene reminiscent of creative gatherings like Kilkenny Animated Festival. The photo has a subtle coloured border.

Amy Byrne

Rick and Morty • Grimsburg

A person with long hair and a beard plays a violin passionately, eyes closed, holding the instrument high. The image, tinted green, captures the vibrant spirit of the Kilkenny Animated Festival.
A man with long hair and a beard plays a violin dramatically with his eyes closed, wearing a blue waistcoat and pink shirt, against a blue background, capturing the creative spirit of the Kilkenny Animated Festival.

Aindrias de Staic

Actor • Musician • Poet

A man with dark hair, glasses, and a beard is smiling slightly. He is wearing a blazer over a T-shirt. The image, taken at the Kilkenny Animated Festival, has a yellow tint and a blurred indoor background.
A man with short dark hair, glasses, and a beard wears a grey jacket over a black shirt with red and white designs. He is smiling and standing indoors at the Kilkenny Animated Festival, with blurred artwork in the background.

Andrew Partridge

CEO of Anime Limited

A person with short, fair hair and a necklace is looking at the camera, smiling slightly. The photo has a blue tint and soft lighting, capturing the lively atmosphere of the Kilkenny Animated Festival.

Annie Atkins

The Grand Budapest Hotel • Isle of Dogs

Woman with long hair in a furry hat and hoop earrings smiles outdoors at the Kilkenny Animated Festival. The image has a strong red filter and is tilted, with shadows in the background.
A woman with long brown hair, wearing a black fuzzy hat and jacket, smiles while squinting in bright sunlight against an orange wall at the Kilkenny Animated Festival. She has hoop earrings and a necklace.

Aoife Dooley

Frankie’s World • Your One Nikita

A close-up selfie of an older man with glasses, white hair, and a beard, wearing a suit and tie. The image has a strong green colour filter, capturing the creative spirit often seen at the Kilkenny Animated Festival.
An older man with grey hair, thick eyebrows, glasses, and a white beard is wearing a suit and sitting indoors with warm lighting and curtains in the background, perhaps ready to share his insights at the Kilkenny Animated Festival.

Charles Solomon

Critic & Historian of Animation

A bearded man with dark hair smiles slightly at the camera. He is wearing a dark shirt over a T-shirt. The image, featuring a blue colour filter and rounded corners, has a plain background—reminiscent of promotional portraits often seen for guests at the Kilkenny Animated Festival.
A man with dark hair and a full beard is smiling softly. He wears a blue shirt over a grey T-shirt. The background is plain, with soft pink tones, and the photo—framed by a colourful border—captures the cheerful spirit of the Kilkenny Animated Festival.

Colm Dowling

Build & Rigging Artist 

A man with tousled dark hair wearing a black shirt and blazer poses in front of a blue background, framed by a colourful gradient border, evoking the vibrant spirit of the Kilkenny Animated Festival.

Dylan Moran

Comedian • Actor • Writer

A man with short brown hair and a beard is smiling slightly, wearing a T-shirt. The image, reminiscent of creative portraits seen at Kilkenny Animated Festival, features a red colour filter and a plain background.
A man with short brown hair and a beard smiles slightly at the camera. He is wearing a grey T-shirt. The photo, featuring a colourful gradient border, was taken during the vibrant Kilkenny Animated Festival.

Fergal Brennan

Technical Director at Cartoon Saloon

A smiling man wearing a backwards cap draws at a desk with a computer and bookshelves in the background. The image, with its blue tint, captures the creative atmosphere often found at events like the Kilkenny Animated Festival.
A smiling person wearing a backwards cap and red shirt draws on paper at a desk, perhaps inspired by the creativity of Kilkenny Animated Festival, with a computer and shelves in the background.

Harry Burton

Political Cartoonist • Illustrator • Storyboard Artist

An older woman with short hair and glasses smiles whilst leaning on a glass surface, exuding the creative energy of the Kilkenny Animated Festival. She wears a necklace, earrings, and a long-sleeve shirt. The image has a green filter.
Smiling older woman with short white hair, glasses, and a yellow top stands outdoors, leaning on a railing. She wears statement earrings and a necklace, with a rainbow-coloured border framing the photo—capturing the cheerful spirit often seen at the Kilkenny Animated Festival.

Helen McCarthy

Anime! A Beginners Guide To Japanese Animation

A woman with short hair and tattoos on her arms, wearing a white T-shirt and necklace, sits against a light-coloured background, looking at the camera with a slight smile. The image, reminiscent of portraits from the Kilkenny Animated Festival, has a blue tint.
Woman with short brown hair and tattoos on her arms wears a white shirt and gold necklace, sitting against a white background with a colourful border around the photo—perfectly capturing the creative spirit of the Kilkenny Animated Festival.

Marty Broski

Animation Supervisor at Lighthouse Studios

Person with long wavy hair wearing a dark shirt sits in front of blooming flowers at the Kilkenny Animated Festival. The entire image has a bright green filter.

Melissa Malone

Illustrator • Art Director

A woman with long dark hair wearing a white top and dangling earrings poses against a plain, light blue background, evoking the creative spirit of the Kilkenny Animated Festival. The image has a blue colour filter.
A woman with long brown hair wearing a white blouse and dangling earrings poses against a plain background with a colourful border around the image, evoking the lively spirit of the Kilkenny Animated Festival.

Naoko Yamada

Japanese Animator • Television & Film Director.

A woman with short hair, wearing a textured knitted jumper, looks at the camera with a gentle smile. The image has a yellowish tint and soft lighting, evoking the warm and inviting atmosphere of the Kilkenny Animated Festival.
Black and white portrait of a person with short hair, wearing a textured jumper, looking at the camera with a slight smile. The photo has a colourful gradient border inspired by the vibrant energy of the Kilkenny Animated Festival.

Nora Twomey

Producer

A bearded man wearing glasses, a bow tie, and a crown smiles at the camera during the Kilkenny Animated Festival. The image has a strong red tint.
A person with a grey beard, wearing large black glasses, a black hat with a tiara, and a black dinner jacket with a bow tie, smiles at the camera. A colourful border frames the image, capturing the festive spirit of the Kilkenny Animated Festival.

Paul Young

Co-Founder & Creative Director of Cartoon Saloon

A woman with long dark hair, two front strands loose, smiles at the camera. She wears layered clothing, earrings, a necklace, and a badge—all in a blue-tinted image capturing the vibrant spirit of the Kilkenny Animated Festival.
A smiling woman with dark hair in two front plaits wears earrings, a pendant necklace, and a layered outfit with a patterned shirt and cream scarf. The image has a rainbow border, capturing the vibrant spirit of the Kilkenny Animated Festival.

Rebeca Luca

Silly Sundays • The Boys • President Curtis

A person with short hair smiles at the camera, wearing a T-shirt featuring a cartoon cat with a camera and beret—reminiscent of the playful spirit of the Kilkenny Animated Festival. The image has a green filter. Shelves and a desk are visible in the blurred background.
A person with short brown hair smiles, wearing a yellow T-shirt with a black cartoon cat design and a grey long-sleeve shirt underneath—perfect attire for the creative spirit of the Kilkenny Animated Festival. Shelves and a blurred background are visible.

Sarah Bowie

Writer • Illustrator

A woman wearing a traditional kimono smiles outdoors at the Kilkenny Animated Festival. The image has a yellowish tint and trees are visible in the background.
A woman wearing an orange kimono with floral patterns smiles outdoors in front of leafy trees and red flowers, capturing the vibrant spirit often seen at the Kilkenny Animated Festival.

Satoko O’Brien

Japanese Cultural Educator & Community Organiser

A man with short, fair hair and a beard looks at the camera. He is wearing a plain white shirt, and the image—bathed in a strong red tint—captures the vibrant energy reminiscent of the Kilkenny Animated Festival.
A man with light skin, short blond hair, and a beard wears a plain white shirt, standing against a neutral background with a soft rainbow-coloured border around the image—capturing the creative spirit of the Kilkenny Animated Festival.

Stephen Colfer

Performer • Writer • Director 

A person with shoulder-length hair smiles outdoors in front of blooming flowers during the Kilkenny Animated Festival. The image has a strong green colour filter.
A young woman with shoulder-length brown hair smiles in front of tall yellow flowers at the Kilkenny Animated Festival. She wears a sleeveless black top and silver hoop earrings. The background shows blurred greenery and a building.

Taís Val Peena

Animator • Clean-up Artist • Multidisciplinary Visual Artist

A bearded man with tattoos on his arms, wearing a black T-shirt, sits near a window at the Kilkenny Animated Festival. The image has a blue colour filter.
A bearded man with tattoos, wearing a black t-shirt, sits by a window. The image is in black and white with a colourful border inspired by the vibrant energy of the Kilkenny Animated Festival.

Tomm Moore

Co-founder and Creative Director of Cartoon Saloon

A person with glasses, a curled moustache, and a beard smiles at the camera at the Kilkenny Animated Festival. They wear a patterned waistcoat over a collared shirt. The photo has a yellow tint.
A bearded person with glasses and a curled moustache smiles at the camera. The photo is black and white with a border in rainbow colours, capturing the vibrant spirit of the Kilkenny Animated Festival.

Will Wivell

Professional Animator at Lighthouse Studios

Visual Storytelling Celebration

Kilkenny Animated

“I had such a lovely time at the festival, thank you again for the hospitality! Already daydreaming about how soon I can return to Ireland…”

A woman with long blonde hair wearing a navy cap and black shirt stands outdoors with hills in the background, a colourful border framing her as if she's part of the Kilkenny Animated Festival. She has a neutral expression, small hoop earrings, and a necklace.

Lisa Hanawalt

A woman with wavy hair wearing a white T-shirt and red lanyard stands at a table, sorting papers during the Kilkenny Animated Festival. A screen with graphics is visible behind her in a classroom or office setting.
A small animation festival with a BIG appetite

Kilkenny Animated is a small animation festival with a big appetite for visual storytelling.
Set in the medieval heart of Kilkenny, it brings animation lovers, curious creatives and industry folk together.

Academy Award® Nominated Studio

Hosted by five time Academy Award® nominated animation studio, Cartoon Saloon, and BAFTA award-winning Lighthouse Studios.

A woman in a white shirt stands against a graffiti-covered wall, arms outstretched. Blue neon doodles of shopping bags and X's evoke the vibrant, creative spirit of events like the Kilkenny Animated Festival.

Uncover Kilkenny

Plan Your Visit

Discover the charming streets of Kilkenny, where history and culture come alive.

Explore Killkenny

Get In Contact For Any Concerns Or Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Kilkenny Animated is a festival celebrating animation, illustration, and visual storytelling through talks, screenings, workshops, and creative events for audiences of all ages.

The festival takes place annually. This year runs 11th-13th Sept 2026 in Kilkenny city.

Events take place across venues in Kilkenny, with the main programme hosted in Kilkenny City.

Meet the Makers

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