Press Release
March 13, 2026 • 4 min read
GOAL NextGen is set to return to St Patrick’s Festival this year, bringing an exciting array of creative collaborations to the iconic Bandstand at St. Stephen’s Green. The event runs from 11am-5pm on Saturday March 14th and is free and open to all!
Celebrating Irish roots
GOAL NextGen is delighted to partner once again with St. Patrick’s Festival to celebrate the theme of ‘Roots’, an exploration of Ireland’s living heritage, and of the people, places, and stories that connect us across borders.
At the heart of GOAL NextGen, the organisation’s Global Citizenship programme, is a commitment to cross-cultural belonging and global connection. We bring together young people, age 18-25, from around the globe to deepen their understanding of Global Citizenship and the interconnected nature of our shared world. This year, GOAL NextGen is celebrating all those who call Ireland their home, contributing their cultural expression, language and tradition to enrich our society, alongside our international friends, who carry a piece of Ireland with them, in their communities. The GOAL NextGen programme reflects this dynamic exchange: rooted in Ireland and strengthened by global voices.
In celebration of this shared heritage, GOAL NextGen will host a diverse line-up of artists exploring themes of belonging, identity and culture though music, spoken word, and dance. These artists highlight the Irish and international threads that weave people together in our global community.
GOAL artist line up
11.00-11:30 – Experience the energy and creativity of Tura Arutura, a musician, dancer, storyteller and multi-instrumentalist whose work blends Irish traditional music and Sean Nós dance with African rhythm, song and spoken word. Through powerful live performances, Tura celebrates the connection between Irish and African cultures, creating joyful, interactive shows that bring audiences together through music, movement and storytelling
11:30 – 12:00 – Discover the power of spoken word with Mikey Cullen, a Dublin based poet, secondary school teacher, and rap artist who’s spoken word piece titled ‘Home’ has made waves across social media, with over half a million view to date.
12.00-13.30: Enjoy a vibrant celebration of global culture with performances from a range of St. Patrick’s Festival Community Groups, including:
- Ukrainian Vol Malva Choir (Ukraine)
These groups bring rich traditions, dance, music and storytelling from around the world to the stage.
Afternoon line-up
13:30 –14:30 – Visual artist Tuqa Al‑Sarraj and theatre artists Gráinnemir and Sorcha Fox present a collaborative performance blending interactive art, poetry and theatre. Together, they invite audiences to explore themes of memory, identity and exile through dialogue, imagery and voice.
14:30 – 16:00 – The stage comes alive once again with another exciting line‑up of SPF Community Groups, featuring:
- Dance Academy (Ireland)
A dynamic celebration of dance, tradition and community from across the globe.
16:00 – 16:30 – Experience the innovative sound of Salamay, a Nigerian‑born, Cork‑raised artist reshaping contemporary Hip Hop with his fusion of rhythm and poetry. Influenced by Hip Hop, Soul, R&B and Afrobeat, Salamay has earned critical acclaim — including a No. 2 spot on District Magazine’s “Top Ten Tracks” for Take It Easy — and placements on major playlists like Spotify’s Fresh Finds Hip Hop. With performances from Electric Picnic to Other Voices, he continues to champion Ireland’s vibrant Hip Hop scene ahead of his 2026 release.
16:30 – 17:00 – Closing the day is Celaviedmai, one of the most exciting voices in the Irish music scene and one of the few female rappers to reach national prominence. Following her chart‑topping #1 single created through GOAL’s NextGen X‑Change project, Celaviedmai will curate a special set for the GOAL Global Stage, spotlighting emerging Irish artists and performing her powerful collaboration piece “Spark.”
Connection across borders
Speaking about the GOAL NextGen activation at St. Stephen’s Green, Victoria Walshe, Head of Global Citizenship, said,
“This is our fourth year participating in the St. Patrick’s Festival, and we couldn’t imagine a theme more aligned with the heart of our programme. Through our work, we support young people around the world to understand the value of cross‑cultural collaboration, sharing, and understanding, and ‘Roots’ speaks directly to that mission. The festival gives us a unique opportunity to engage creatively and meaningfully with our audiences, and to celebrate the rich values that Irish heritage represents both at home and globally. At a time when intercultural openness and respect are increasingly under threat, it is more important than ever to create spaces that honour cultural exchange and highlight how deeply our global community enriches Ireland, and how Ireland, in turn, leaves its mark across the world.”
Make sure to visit our information stand at the Bandstand in St. Stephen’s to learn more about GOAL NextGen’s exciting programme of events and upcoming opportunities, including the launch our for the NextGen Youth Programme for 2026 recruitment, opening March 1st to April 1st.
GOAL NextGen hits the Stephens Green Bandstand on Saturday March 14th from 11am-5.00pm. Access to all GOAL NextGen events is completely free. For more information, please visit GOAL takeover at St. Stephen’s Green Bandstand – St. Patrick’s Festival
To speak to one of the artists or a spokesperson from GOAL contact somalley@goal.ie
To learn more about the GOAL NextGen please visit https://www.goalglobal.org/nextgen
