The Smirnoff Stage marks its third year at Stradbally with a female-heavy Saturday lineup, a new Residency winner making their festival debut alongside Armand Van Helden, Sam Divine, Skepta and ten haptic suits letting more people feel a live set.
Smirnoff Sound Nation is back at Electric Picnic for a third year, running Friday August 28th to Sunday August 30th at Stradbally. Last year the stage built its case around accessibility as a whole; this year, they’re going further.
At a glance:
- Armand Van Helden and Kilimanjaro headline Friday, Sam Divine and Cinthie headline an all-female Saturday, and a Skepta DJ set closes out Sunday.
- The Residency winner Pinot G, chosen from over 300 entries nationwide, makes his festival debut.
- Ten haptic suits return, letting Deaf and hard-of-hearing festival-goers feel a live set and the stage features a noted live ISL interpreter.
- Four Irish collectives, including 35 Vintage, Dublin Independent Fashion Week and Babooshka get dedicated pop-up spaces on site.
- There will also be dance performance from Human Collective.
The music – Smirnoff Sound Nation at Electric Picnic
Friday
- Armand Van Helden
- Kilimanjaro
- Dave Treacy
- Jade Carney
- Alice Ugbah
Saturday (all-female lineup)
- Sam Divine
- Cinthie
- Lia b2b Viki Dos Santos
- Shauna Dee
- Onai
- Loubru
- Juslinis
Sunday
- Skepta (DJ set)
- Paige Tomlinson
- Djammin
- 49th & Main b2b Caolan Ryan
- Caz
- Marcus O’Laoire
- GRL
What does inclusivity at Smirnoff Sound Nation at Electric Picnic look like?
- Ten haptic suits return to the Smirnoff Stage this year.
- They translate music into vibration in real time, letting Deaf and hard-of-hearing festival-goers feel the rhythm, bassline and energy of a set as it happens.
- The haptic suit initiative is shaped by the lived experience of Sarah-Jane O’Regan, ISL interpreter and Smirnoff Sound Nation partner.
- That thinking runs through every corner of the Smirnoff Stage, from wheelchair-accessible routes and a lift to the spirit bar’s top deck, to Braille menus, sign language interpretation, dedicated accessibility queues and sensory-friendly touches, Smirnoff iscommitted to building a dance floor where everyone is welcome, celebrated, and free to express who they are.
“The haptic suit initiative allows the world of live music to be more accessible and ensures that everyone can be invited to the party.”
— Sarah-Jane O’Regan
The Residency: a new DJ, discovered
- Smirnoff’s nationwide search for emerging DJ talent drew over 300 entries this year The winner, Limerick DJ Pinot G, steps onto the Smirnoff Stage to play his biggest set yet – expect party-jumping house music.
Supporting Irish collectives
- Four Irish collectives get dedicated pop-up spaces on site this year.
- Confirmed so far: 35 Vintage, Dublin Independent Fashion Week and Babooshka, with more names to come, which continues Smirnoff’s support for the grassroots crews building Ireland’s cultural scene.
- Smirnoff is also bringing that same spirit to a limited-edition merchandise drop this year, created in collaboration with Irish designer Seeking Judy and available exclusively at Electric Picnic 2026.
- There will also be dance performance from Human Collective.
In their words
“Electric Picnic has become one of the most important moments of the year for Smirnoff Sound Nation in Ireland. Three years into this partnership, we’re not slowing down, we’re going further. A female-heavy Saturday lineup, a Residency winner making their festival debut, continued space for the collectives shaping Irish culture, and haptic suits that let more people feel the music than ever before, this is what it looks like when a brand commits to a belief and keeps building on it.”
— David Heaney, Marketing Head of Spirits, Diageo Ireland
Follow @smirnoff on Instagram for lineup reveals and updates ahead of the festival.
Always be drink aware, for more information visit Drinkaware Ireland .
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
