DUBLIN HANDELFEST 2026 | Family Concert (Children Aged 5-8 Years)

Dublin Handelfest’s Family Concert for ages 5 to 8 is the later Sunday morning session at the Chapel Royal, Dublin Castle. Presenter Jenna Raggett leads with IBO Musicians, and at this age range the programme can go further: children aged 5 to 8 can engage with music as music, following structure, dynamics, and melody in a way that the very youngest audiences can’t quite do yet.

The Handelfest celebrates Dublin’s connection to George Frideric Handel, who premiered the Messiah at Fishamble Street in 1742. The family programming is a genuine commitment to making that heritage accessible at every age.

What to expect

11:30am Sunday at the Chapel Royal inside Dublin Castle. The building is genuinely worth seeing: a Gothic Revival church from the early 19th century with good acoustics and a setting that makes a concert feel like an event rather than an outing. The 11:30am time is convenient for families who want to do something before lunch.

This concert is for ages 5-8. The 10am concert on the same morning covers ages 1-4. Saturday’s Cushion Concerts cover younger children. Check Eventbrite for the full Handelfest programme across the Easter weekend.

Getting there

Dublin Castle is on Dame Street in the city centre, well served by buses on Dame Street and close to the city centre. Tickets on Eventbrite; book early as family concerts tend to fill quickly.