Irish success story 'The Yoga Picnic' celebrates five years with impressive festival line-up

What began as a small yoga gathering in rural Westmeath has grown into one of Ireland’s biggest wellness festivals, attracting thousands of visitors from across Ireland, Europe and the United States.

The first Yoga Picnic welcomed just 120 attendees. By year two, early bird tickets sold out in nine minutes and attendance jumped to more than 1,000 people. The event has since grown to attract over 2,000 attendees annually. Now celebrating its fifth anniversary, The Yoga Picnic will return to the grounds of Lilliput House on the shores of Lough Ennell, Co. Westmeath, on July 4th 2026.

Crafted by sisters Alice and Katy Harrison and Mary Gardiner, The Yoga Picnic is an Irish small business success story, growing organically from a simple community idea into an internationally recognised wellbeing festival in just five years.

The idea was born after Alice, a criminal barrister and published legal author, moved from Dublin to rural Westmeath to be with her husband, who runs an organic farm. Searching for connection and community in her new home, she found it through yoga classes run by Mary Gardiner in Kilbeggan.

What started as a small outdoor yoga picnic for a handful of teachers and students quickly snowballed.

“We never planned for it to become a festival,” the organisers said. “But there was clearly a huge appetite for connection, wellbeing and community.

“We’re incredibly proud that something which started as a small local gathering in the Midlands has become an international event bringing people to the heart of Ireland.” 

The festival’s family roots are central to its story. Alice and Katy were both trained by their father, Jack Harrison, founder of the Celtic School of Yoga in Kinvara, Co. Galway, creating a rare multi-generational Irish yoga business.

To celebrate this landmark fifth year, the festival is introducing an exciting lineup of new areas along with internationally renowned teachers Tara Judelle and Dylan Werner, both from the USA, coming to Ireland especially for the festival. For the very first time, attendees can experience a dedicated reformer pilates tent. Foodies will be treated to the brand-new "Cook with Kia Kitchen," where incredible celebrity chefs including Ciara Turley also known as ‘The Tummy Fairy’, and Alannah Sheehan, known more familiarly online as ‘Worthfightingfor’ will host live cooking demonstrations in a kitchen uniquely powered by Kia electric cars. As the sun sets, the festival will transition into the evening with a brand-new night-time stage featuring live DJs to keep the energy going.

For 2026, organisers are bringing internationally renowned yoga teachers and wellness experts to the Midlands, alongside new additions including reformer Pilates, cooking demonstrations and a range of wellbeing experiences.

The festival has also gained recognition for its sustainability initiatives. In partnership with Kia Ireland, The Yoga Picnic replaced traditional diesel generators with electric vehicles to power festival tents, significantly reducing emissions and noise.

The Yoga Picnic 2026 will take place at Lilliput House, Co. Westmeath. More information is available at www.theyogapicnic.com.