Programme is Announced for Cooish Vooar – Manx Language Festival
Featuring super-star Celtic musicians in concert, a ‘YouTube sensation’ speaker event, a harvest celebration extravaganza and the première of the world’s first Manx language opera immersed in Manx folklore, … the Cooish Vooar – Manx language festival Programme is available to view now at www.learnmanx.com/cooishvooar
The colourful programme for 2026 has been coordinated by Culture Vannin, designed and printed locally, and will be available to pick up from locations across the Island from Tuesday 1st September
Taking place between Friday 25th and Tuesday 29th September, the Cooish Vooar – Manx language festival is an expanded version of the annual Cooish in celebration of Blein ny Gaelgey (Year of the Manx Language).
The festival features over 32 events Island-wide with activities for everyone to enjoy. Many will be free to attend, and the programme has been carefully curated to include events for complete beginners, through to current learners and fluent speakers.
Manx Language Development Officer at Culture Vannin, Ruth Keggin Gell explains this year’s name;
“The word Cooish has many meanings in Manx but is commonly used as a word for a cosy chat or friendly get-together. Vooar (or mooar) means big – so for this year we have expanded the name to the Manx for ‘Big Cooish’ in recognition of Year of the Manx Language and the scale of activities we have planned”.
Year of the Manx Language Coordinator at Culture Vannin, Tiffany Kerruish is keen that anybody interested in learning Manx or finding out more about the language should come along;
“The festival is a wonderful opportunity to meet Manx speakers, hear Manx being spoken and join in with fun and relaxed activities with the language in use. There are beginner workshops, singing workshops, walking tours, concerts, music sessions – something for all tastes! Educational charity, Mooinjer Veggey will also be organising and running a full day of activities for children. The programme has been carefully designed to show which activities can be attended without any prior experience of the Manx language and everybody will be made very welcome. Many events and free to attend, but still require you to book your place – all the links for booking can be found at www.learnmanx.com/cooishvooar”
The Cooish Vooar – Manx language festival is coordinated by Culture Vannin with events contributed by the Manx language community and its organisations. The festival is sponsored by Island Escapes with support from the Domestic Event Fund.
