Event registration for Bealtaine 2023, Ireland’s national celebration of the arts and creativity as we age, opens today Thursday 9th February. Arts organisations, big and small, and community groups, individual organisers and artists are encouraged to register an event, which takes place in May 2023, on bealtaine.ie. This year marks the final year of the festival theme of In(ter)dependence. 

For inspiration organisers can look back at highlights of last year's diverse programme on bealtaine.ie or on Age & Opportunity's YouTube channel. Events include 'Love Song Part 1: Communities of Dissent - Silver Stars' by Seán Millar, presented in partnership with The Abbey Theatre, and 'Mad, Bad, and Dangerous: a celebration of ‘difficult’ women', produced by Up Up Up, with Copper Alley, in association with Bealtaine and Dublin Fringe Festival.

In order to support participation in the festival, Bealtaine organiser Age & Opportunity is inviting applications for two awards: the Bealtaine Hero Award and the National Arts in Nursing Homes Day Award.

For the Bealtaine Hero Award applications are welcome from individuals and/or organisations (especially members of marginalised or under-represented groups) who wish to create an exciting new festival event which may be online, blended or in-person. Two awards of €500 will be made to the successful applicants. The deadline for application is 5pm, Friday February 17^th 2023.

The National Arts in Nursing Homes Day Award, in partnership with Nursing Homes Ireland, invite applications from care settings who wish to facilitate their residents’ artistic and creative expression by organising interactive and engaging arts workshops, sessions and events. Projects will culminate in a festival event to be presented as part of the third ever National Arts in Nursing Homes Day on Friday 19^th May. One award of €1,000 and two awards of €500 will be made to three successful applicants. Deadline for applications is 5pm, Friday February 24^th 2023.

The final Bealtaine 2023 programme will be officially announced in early April. Event organisers are strongly advised to register by April 4th although registration will still be possible up to May.

Bealtaine is an Age & Opportunity Arts initiative, funded by the Arts Council and the HSE.

For further information or any queries regarding the online registration process or the festival, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..