Cork County Gears Up for Bike Week 2026

Cork County Council is encouraging people of all ages to get on their bikes and discover the joys of cycling during Bike Week Cork 2026, with a packed programme of over 300 events taking place across the county from Saturday, 9 May to Sunday, 17 May.

The week-long festival caters for all ages and abilities, with most events free to attend. This year's edition arrives at a significant moment for active travel in the region: the 2025 Cork Walking & Cycling Index found that 73% of residents now support the development of cycle paths physically separated from traffic, while over €100 million has been invested in active travel schemes across the county since 2021.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Mary Linehan Foley, welcomed the return of the festival:

"It is great to see Bike Week Cork returning for 2026 with a packed schedule of events suitable for young and old. Most of the events are free and aim to highlight the fun aspects of cycling as a form of transport or simply just for leisure. Bike Week Cork has always been successful in schools, and it is fantastic to see so many schools involved once again. Cycling has so many benefits and Bike Week is a superb opportunity to highlight those benefits along with the fantastic cycling infrastructure in place across the County. Given the number of events organised, there is something for everybody and I would encourage all residents of Cork County to participate in Bike Week."

Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Moira Murrell, added:

"Working in partnership with the National Transport Authority, Cork County Council continues to deliver new active travel infrastructure throughout the county. Bike Week Cork is a fantastic opportunity for everyone in Cork to get on your bike and discover these infrastructural improvements across the County aimed at making cycling safer and more enjoyable for all."

James Kirby of Cork Sports Partnership highlighted the scale of this year's programme:

"With over 300 events organised for Bike Week Cork 2026, it is set to be our most ambitious year yet. This success is built on a remarkably successful partnership between Cork Sports Partnership, Cork County Council, Cork City Council, and multiple other stakeholders. Whether it's a family fun cycle, a maintenance workshop, or a scenic tour, we have tailored this year's programme to ensure there is an event for every person in every community across the County."

Among the schools taking part is Mary Geary's Childcare in Carrigtwohill, which will again participate in a virtual cycle challenge, this year aiming to cover the distance from Carrigtwohill to The Burren in Co. Clare over the course of the week.

Full details of all Bike Week Cork 2026 events are available at www.corkbikeweek.ie.