The Well Festival of Arts & Wellbeing celebrates how the arts help us to feel good. Come, join us for this year’s festival and be Well!

Festival dates 2026: Monday 16 – Saturday 21 February

View the Full Festival Programme Here

Well is presented by Réalta (Waterford Healing Arts), Waterford City & County Libraries and Garter Lane Arts Centre, and is funded by the Arts Council, the HSE and Waterford City & County Council.

Well Festival 2026 Events in Waterford Libraries: 

Embrace the Arts at Your Library
Waterford City and County Libraries is a fantastic community resource, and here at the Well Festival, we know that expressing ourselves through any art form makes us feel good.

For this year’s festival, library staff have once again shared their passion for the arts, curating a wonderful selection of books to celebrate the joys of reading and inspire you to explore art forms of your choice.

Call to any of our 12 branches to browse our vibrant displays of books, DVDs, audiobooks, and magazines.

View Library Branch opening hours here.

Can’t make it in person? Explore lots of free online resources here.

‘New Shoots’ – Exhibition by HSE in partnership with Mental Health Ireland at the Index Gallery, Waterford Central Library.

‘New Shoots’ is a photography exhibition developed with HSE Occupational Therapy, Waterford Mental Health Service, the Arts Office, Waterford City & County Council and Mental Health Ireland, led by visual artist Rosaleen Heavin.

This exhibition shares works created by budding photographers who took part in the ‘New Shoots’ programme between 2021 and 2024. The works explore through photography themes relating to personal growth, wellbeing and positive change.

Exhibition runs in the Index Gallery, Central Library, Lady Lane, for the month of February. Mon–Sat, 10am–5pm (except Wed, 1pm–8pm). Lunchtime closure on Saturdays 1-2pm.

Launch Date: 18^th February @ 6pm in Central Library

‘The Mindful Maker’ Workshop:  Colouring and Craft for Adults 

Step into a calm, creative space at Central Library. Explore your imagination using simple arts and crafts, unwind and leave feeling refreshed and inspired.

Light refreshments served.

Venue: Central Library, Lady Lane, Waterford

Date: Tuesday 17^th February

Time: 2:30pm – 4:00pm

Free Event, Limited Places.Booking essential: 051 849975 – Suitable for Adults only.

‘Paint with Joy’: Reconnect with your inner child with Artist KiKi Roosali.

Discover the joy of creating without rules!

In this playful painting workshop, artist Kiki Roosali invites you to let go of perfection, explore colour freely, and reconnect with your inner child’s creative spark you had as a child.

No art experience is needed — just curiosity.

Expect laughter in a relaxed fun space to make art that feels good.

Venue: Tramore Library, Market Street, Tramore

Date:  Tuesday 17^th February

Time: 4:00pm – 5:30pm

Free Event, Limited Places. Booking Essential.

Please contact Tramore Library on: 051 849594 for bookings and information. 

Shake, Rattle & Reminisce: Celebrate Waterford’s Showband greats – with WLR FM’s John Keane in the DJ Booth.

Relive cherished memories or experience the magical Showband era for the first time. We invite you to an evening of song, dance, laughter, shared memories and new memory making.

Venue: Carrickphierish Library, Carrickphierish Road, Gracedieu

Date: Thursday 19^th  February

Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm

Free Event, Limited Places. Booking Essential.

Please contact Carrickphierish Library on: 051 849696 for bookings and information. Sweet treats served.

Wellies Events 2026 at Waterford Libraries:

‘Play, Music and Movement’ for ages 0-3 years with Ready Steady Play: explore sound, movement, and happy connections.

Bring your little one along to sing, move, and play together in this fun, nurturing session led by a child development specialist from Ready Steady Play.

A wonderful event to promote early learning and wellbeing in a fun and safe environment.

Venue: Central Library, Lady Lane, Waterford

Date: Wednesday 18^th February

Time: 10:30am – 11:30am

Free Event.  All welcome. Suitable for ages 0-3 years.    

‘Make some Noise’ with Deise Music Therapy for ages 8-12 years

Join Creative Arts Therapist Catherine Sweeney of Deise Music Therapy for a fun music workshop, encouraging imagination, listening, movement, connection and expression in children ages 8-12 years.

Venue: Ardkeen Library, Ardkeen Shopping Centre

Date: Thursday 19^th February

Time: 10:00am – 11:00am.

Free Event, Limited Places.  Booking Essential.

Please contact Ardkeen Library on: 051 849755 for bookings and information.  Suitable for ages 8-12 years.

‘Doodle Your Monster Mood’: Scribbles, giggles and gentle imagination for children!

Drop into Brown’s Road Library, Lisduggan or Central Library, Lady Lane and let your child unleash their creative imagination, by contributing to our giant monster doodle. A fun, playful way to celebrate wellbeing through shared art and imagination.

• Brown’s Road Library, Lisduggan.  Free Event, All Welcome. Friday 20^th February from 10:00am – 1:00pm & 2:00pm – 5:00pm.
• Central Library, Lady Lane, Waterford. Free Event, All Welcome – Saturday 21^st Feburary 10:00am -1:00pm & 2:00pm – 5:00pm.

‘Under the Sea’ Craft workshop for ages 4-7

Join Central Library as we embark on a journey of creativity and mindfulness. Let your imagination soar as we explore the wonders of the ocean through our artistic creations.

Venue: Central Library, Lady Lane, Waterford

Date: Friday 20^th February

Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm

Free Event, Limited Places. Booking Essential.

Please contact Central Library on: 051 849975 for bookings and information. Suitable for ages 4-7 years.

‘Re-Fashion Revolution’ for young people with Blast Store

Embrace sustainable fashion with Blast Store – Love your clothes for longer, by learning how to creatively upcycle and repair with patchwork, hand painting, stitching and more. Discover how to create fashion that feels like you in this hands-on workshop!

Venue: Central Library, Lady Lane, Waterford

Date: Saturday 21^st February

Time: 2:30pm – 4:00pm.

Free Event, Limited Places. Booking Essential.

Please contact Central Library on 051 849975 for bookings and information. Suitable for ages 13-15 years.