~ Explore Five Days of Film, Music and Sonic Innovation ~
The Regional Cultural Centre (RCC), Letterkenny, has announced the return of Sound! Soundtrack and Film Festival 2026, an ambitious five-day celebration of film, music and sound, taking place from Wednesday 6 May to Sunday 10 May 2026.
Presented in partnership with An Grianán Theatre, the festival continues to build on its reputation as one of Ireland’s most distinctive cultural events exploring the relationship between cinema and sound. This year’s expanded programme brings together filmmakers, composers, musicians and audiences for a richly immersive experience that spans screenings, live performances, discussions and family-friendly events.
A major highlight of this year’s programme is From Track to Screen: The Art of the Music Video, a special panel discussion that places the evolving language of music video at centre stage. Featuring acclaimed Donegal-born directors Eilís Doherty, Sean Mullin and Louise Gaffney, the discussion will explore how music and moving image intersect, from concept development to visual storytelling in a digital age. Eilís Doherty arrives at the festival fresh from directing CMAT’s widely acclaimed new video for “The Jamie Oliver Petrol Station”, a high-profile release featuring a cameo from celebrity chef Jamie Oliver himself.
Sound! Festival 2026 presents a rich and varied programme that reflects its core mission, to explore how sound shapes the cinematic experience. Audiences can experience A Quiet Love, a groundbreaking Irish Sign Language feature documentary, followed by a live Q&A with director Garry Keane. Younger audiences and schools are invited to a special screening of The Farthest – Voyager in Space, accompanied by an online discussion with composer Ray Harman.
The festival continues its tradition of reimagining screen culture through live performance with USA ’94 Reimagined, transforming Ireland’s iconic World Cup victory into a vibrant audiovisual event with a newly created live soundtrack by local musicians. Later in the weekend, audiences can experience a large-scale immersive performance from DJ Dano, where sound and image combine in a high-energy live show.
Families are also at the heart of this year’s programme, with Little Cars, Big Sounds offering a playful drive-in cinema experience where children build their own cardboard cars before enjoying The Jungle Book and its unforgettable soundtrack.
Reflecting on the 2026 edition, Jeremy Howard, Director of the Regional Cultural Centre, said:
“Sound! has always been about exploring how we experience sound, not just in music, but in film and in everyday life. This year, we’re particularly excited to highlight the creative energy around music video and visual storytelling, alongside live cinema and immersive performance. It’s about giving audiences new ways to listen, and new ways to enjoy sound led experiences.”
Full programme details and ticket information will be announced in the coming weeks.
For more information, visit:
regionalculturalcentre.com