Cork Events Centre would benefit more acts says Marquee boss Aiken

As four new acts have been added to the Live at the Marquee line-up for 2026, Peter Aiken hopes the long-awaited Cork Events Centre will enable more acts and events.

In Live at the Marquee’s 20th year in Cork, and second year at the old Tedcastle Oil site, Bell X1, Dec Pierce’s Block Rockin’ Beats, James Taylor, and, for the first time, The Marquee Masters: World Darts Superstars, will join the acts for summer 2026.

They follow Christy Moore, Kesha, AJ Tracey, James Arthur, David Gray, and more.

At a programme launch event, held yesterday at the River Lee Hotel, Mr Aiken said a KPop Demon Hunters tribute band will also be in the lineup, with further acts to be announced over the coming weeks.

Speaking to The Echo, Mr Aiken said he is looking forward to the upcoming events season. “We’re very excited. We have a couple of sell-outs already,” said Mr Aiken.

“Entertainment is a huge part of our lives and we need better facilities to play in.

“The artists do like [the marquee tent], [but] it’s a pity that, for whatever reason, we don’t have the events centre. Cork is missing out.

“There will be a few surprises [coming], we will hit 22 performances,” he predicted.

Mr Aiken also said he hopes that once the Cork Events Centre is built, Live at the Marquee will be able to include other events, such as Disney on Ice.

“We had a great success a number years ago with Mamma Mia, and we are thinking of having another theatrical production here,” said Mr Aiken.

“We’re always looking at other things. We were looking at an ice show this year, and I would love to bring Disney on Ice here at some stage, but ultimately our business is in the music industry.”

Tickets for Bell X1, Dec Pierce’s Block Rockin’ Beats, James Taylor, and The Marquee Masters will go on sale this Friday from 10am via: https://www.ticketmaster.ie/.