30 October 2026
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
Lord Mayor Cllr. Damian Boylan has officially launched the 64th Lord Mayor’s Gala Christmas Concert, which returns to Cork City Hall on Saturday 5th December.
With the theme of “Coming Home for Christmas”, this year’s concert will celebrate the magic of Christmas traditions and the joy of coming together with family and friends.
The evening promises a wonderful line-up of performers, including the Cork Concert Orchestra, Mary Hegarty, Emma Nash, Dan O’Keeffe, and the City Hall Singers. A special highlight this year will be the debut appearance of the White Horse Guitar Club at the Gala Christmas Concert.
The Lord Mayor’s Gala Christmas Concert 2026 was launched at the Council Chambers. This is the 64th Christmas Concert and charities to benefit from the proceeds of this year’s concert will be The Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland Cork Branch and Cork Stroke Support.
The Lord Mayor, Cllr. Damian Boylan, along with the Christmas Concert organising committee, performers and friends were present for the launch.
Pictured: The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Damian Boylan launching the Christmas Gala Concert.
Pic: Brian Lougheed
As always, the Gala Christmas Concert is a charity event, and this year’s beneficiaries will be the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and Cork Stroke Support, selected by the Lord Mayor in recognition of the vital support and services they provide across Cork City.
Speaking at the launch, the Lord Mayor said: “I’m delighted to officially launch the 2026 Lord Mayor’s Gala Christmas Concert. The Concert’s longevity is a real testament to the generosity of Cork people and the special place this event holds in our Christmas celebrations. I’m grateful to all the artists and volunteers who will give their time to making this evening so special, and I am particularly looking forward to welcoming the White Horse Guitar Club to the Concert for the first time. This will be a wonderful opportunity for people to come together, enjoy a memorable evening of music, and support two very deserving charities.”
Tickets for the Lord Mayor’s Gala Christmas Concert are on sale now and can be purchased through the Everyman website or in Pro Musica, Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork. With the Concert having sold out in recent years, Cork audiences are encouraged to book early and not miss out on this festive favourite.