Rain or shine, Electric Picnic is always the best weekend of summer — here’s why

IMAGE’s own Emily O’Neill waxes lyrical about last weekend’s festival. From homegrown acts and international icons to top-notch food trucks and podcast sessions, there wasn’t a dull moment at EP this year.

Electric Picnic is, without a doubt, always my favourite weekend of the year. The excitement in the lead-up reminds me of the giddy anticipation I used to experience on Christmas Eve, (knowing Santa was on his way!). And of course, the fashion is next level. Part of the experience is the preparation, when you sit down to start packing, decide which headliners you’re going to see and what outfits you’re going to wear.

This year, the forecasted weather was not looking too good, so I had to pack for all four seasons. My trusty McWilliam Holdall Bag was a lifesaver! In previous years, I had to carry my clothes in multiple bags, which isn’t ideal when you already have loads to lug down to the camping site. This time, though, I got everything packed into my gorgeous blue and white striped holdall. I am not a light packer either, so I had dresses, trousers, leggings, fleeces and everything in between squeezed in there (it really is a Mary Poppins bag!). It was nice having that peace of mind, knowing that my clothes would be safe and dry no matter the weather!

Friday – Chappell Roan and late-night dance parties

So, the weekend has now come and gone – shall we do a little recap?

I am the biggest music lover, especially live performances. This year’s line-up was right up my street; each and every act I saw throughout the weekend was phenomenal! What really stole the show, though, was homegrown Irish talent. I tried to see as many acts as I could.

The Academic kicked off EP this year with a fun-filled set in the Electric Arena. I have been a huge fan since my late teens, and they are just as good as they were back then, if not better! They played all of their hits, and the tent was rocking from the moment they stood on stage. Chappell Roan was up next, and to say we had a ball was an understatement. Doing the ‘Hot To Go’ routine and singing ‘Pink Pony Club’ with my brothers was something that wasn’t on my bingo card for 2025.

Saturday – sing-songs and rainbows

One of my highlights was seeing Aaron Rowe play the mainstage on Saturday afternoon. The sun was shining, the crowd was on top form, and you could see how much it meant to Aaron as he got a little teary-eyed on stage. He is one of those rare talents you don’t come across too often. Amble is another – they emerged onto the Irish music scene a few years ago, and their set was a special one. A rainbow appeared over the mainstage during their performance, and it was pure magic. Hearing the crowd sing every song word for word genuinely gave me goosebumps.

I am a huge Sam Fender fan, so his set was another favourite of mine. Everything from his setlist to his vocals was a 10 out of 10. It was one of those sets that went by in the blink of an eye because we had so much fun as a group. We sang, laughed and danced for an hour and a half straight – the atmosphere was electric! Then, The Coronas wrapped up Saturday night in the main area with all of their hits. I have been to more of their gigs than I can count, but they always put on the best show. I had no voice by the time it was over, but I soldiered on to the late-night area to see Le Boom play a not-so-secret set in Trailer Park. I have followed and listened to Le Boom for a long time, but it was my first time catching them live, and they did not disappoint. I danced my bright pink Crocs off before calling it a night and crawling into my sleeping bag for a well-deserved rest.

Sunday – Irish icons and discovering new talent

Sunday was our final day, so we took it easy. We didn’t head into the main arena until 3pm, just in time to watch The Cranberries and special guest Dermot Kennedy take the stage. This was another highlight of the weekend for me! Getting to hear the iconic songs of The Cranberries live was special, and as a huge Dermot Kennedy fan, it was even sweeter. David Gray was next on our list, and he played all the crowd favourites – ‘Babylon’, ‘The One I Love’ and ‘This Year’s Love’. I grew up listening to him with my parents, so it was a nostalgic experience to hear him live.

The Kooks are another one of those bands that bring me back to my early teens. I have seen them live a couple of times, but their set on Sunday night was honestly the best yet! It was so crammed we had to stand outside the tent in the lashing rain, but it was well worth it. As the night was coming to an end, we pottered around and stumbled upon The Fynches playing in Salty Dog. One of my favourite things about EP is discovering new music and talent. The Fynches band members include Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, who you might recognise from the Oscar-winning movie Sing Street. Their harmonies honestly stopped me in my tracks and pulled me into the crowd that night.

To bring the weekend to a close, Kings of Leon put on an incredible show. They are a band I have wanted to see live for a long time, and they did not disappoint. Lead singer Caleb Followill’s voice was so pitch-perfect, it almost sounded like we were listening to them on Spotify! When the opening chords of ‘Sex on Fire’ rang out across the site, the crowd lit up, and it was the perfect end to a wonderful weekend of live music.

Favourite grub and hangout spots

In between all of the music, we managed to squeeze in some delicious food over the weekend. The list of options is endless – there was pizza, curries, burritos, acai bowls, smoothies and even pie and mash! I’d like to give a special shout-out to the team making bao buns in the Moodlight Meadows campsite. I will be dreaming of them every day until next year. I wish I had more time to try all of the delicious food.

Aside from the main music stages, there were so many amazing activations on site! For the whole weekend, Smirnoff’s stage was packed from front to back. If you wanted to have a boogie at any time of the day, this was the place to be. The crowd were always on and the staff were so friendly, joining in and dancing behind the bar. Casammigos was another brilliant area over the weekend, and I think I might have been one of their best customers. They had the best margaritas at EP!

After all of the dancing, my feet needed a rest, and this is where Three’s ‘Charge and Chill’ came to the rescue. Located right beside the main stage, it was the perfect place to relax while still being able to watch the acts. On Saturday night, after two full days of dancing, it was the perfect place to unwind. Also, gorgeous areas like Croí, Greencrafts and Mindfield were ideal to wander around when I needed a break from the hustle and bustle of the main area. They were all filled with art installations, little stalls, podcast sessions and amazing talks.

If you were lucky enough to nab tickets for Electric Picnic 2026, you are in for a treat – and if you are in the market for a new travel bag for the weekend, why not treat yourself to a McWilliam Holdall?

Crafted in Ireland and inspired by the sea, McWilliam Bags blend durability, function, and timeless design. Loved for their heritage and built to last, they’re the perfect companion for work, travel or weekend adventure. Discover the collection at mcwilliambags.com.