From a small idea born at a kitchen table on a rainy Monday morning, GazeFest returns for its fourth year! Flying the flag for Irish shoegaze, GazeFest has grown over the last four years to become the centre point of the Old Crows Promotions calendar. Ireland's first and only shoegaze festival, bringing together bands from all over Ireland, Northern Ireland, UK and this year Europe, to celebrate the sounds of hazy reverberated fuzz and dreamy melodies. GazeFest 2026 is by far the festival's most expansive line so far!
The festival will take place over two dates; August 28th in Dublin's iconic Grand Social Ballroom and August 29th in the hub for Belfast music, The Oh Yeah Centre.
This year the festival will be headlined by UK dream pop royalty, Deary. Recently signed to the legendary label Bella Union, the band announced their debut album 'Birding' to be released on April 3rd. Deary are comprised of London/Brighton based musicians Dottie Cockram, Ben Easton and Harry Catchpole. Debut single, 'Fairground' was released in January 2023 via Sonic Cathedral. Since then they have reached #1 in the UK Vinyl Singles charts and supported Slowdive and Cranes. They have released two highly acclaimed EPs to date; deary (2023) and Aurelia (2024), which were universally praised by the likes of BBC 6 Music, NME, Stereogum, Clash and Brooklyn Vegan. They create wistful dream pop, with a wide range of influences from shoegaze to trip hop and have been described as "masters of orchestrating a mood" (DIY).
The Dublin date features Deary, Silk, Sunstinger and Skyless to begin the festivities. Silk are the solo project from Virgins songwriter Michael Smyth. Having released a handful of successful singles in 2025, Silk are marking 2026 by releasing their debut mini-album 'Auralux' via Blowtorch Records and Shore Dive Records, the album moves between crushing fuzz and elated euphoria, sure to appease fans of MBV, Whirr and Nothing. First time in Dublin, but GazeFest alumni, Sunstinger are an atmospheric five-piece from Fife, Scotland, weaving a dense tapestry of reverb-drenched guitars and melodic vulnerability, crafting immersive sonic landscapes that explore themes of internal collapse, nostalgia, and psychological unrest. Dublin based Skyless open proceedings, their sound lies in a heavy blend of distorted guitars and delicate vocal melodies. The band's music lives in a haunting, dream-like soundscape that feels both comfortingly familiar and exploratory.
The Belfast date is a 14+ all dayer, which sold out in 2024, and has become an essential part of the Belfast gig calendar, with this year is no exception. Deary, Silk, Sunstinger all the take the top spots for the day and are joined by Touzai, an Asian-Irish band blending 90s alternative and shoegaze, Dublin’s Cable Boy who have previously graced stages at Electric Picnic and Other Voices this is their first ever Belfast date, Resplandor who come all the way from the Netherlands, having toured all over EU, UK and USA the band have supported a plethora of iconic acts including The Cure, Slowdive and The Jesus and Mary Chain, GazeFest is their first show in Ireland! Skyless also join the second day with Belfast’s Midnight Housework whose nostalgic guitar sound has caught the attention of BBC Introducing and new comers Ilisium who draw influence from the raw intensity of Title Fight, mixed with punchy dynamics of Hum, who open the day.
The Belfast date is always a 14+ show, providing an opportunity for young people to be a part of and experience some of the most exciting talent Ireland, UK and EU has to offer!
The festival takes its tag line from a Melody Maker coined phrase ‘The Scene That Celebrates Itself’, which referred to how shoegaze bands in early 90’s London avoided traditional rivalries but instead were often seen at each other's gigs, sometimes playing in each other's bands, and drinking together. This is at the heart of what GazeFest is about, bringing together like minded individuals, both bands and crowd, to celebrate some of the most exciting talent across the island, UK and Europe.
Age 14+