Eighteen contestants open 2026 Rose of Tralee festival in Kerry ahead of final crowning

Opening night at MTU Sports Academy

The 2026 Rose of Tralee International Festival opened on Monday night in Kerry, with the first 18 of the competition's 32 contestants appearing on stage. Presenters Dáithí Ó Sé and Kathryn Thomas hosted the event at the MTU Sports Academy Dome, guiding participants through interviews, musical performances, and demonstrations that included a live tutorial on preparing a Derry chicken box. The broadcast of the festival continues on Tuesday from 20:00 on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, when the remaining 14 contestants will appear before the 2026 International Rose of Tralee is crowned.

Tributes and personal stories on stage

The youngest contestant in the field, 19-year-old Cork Rose Lexi Linnane, opened the stage presentations. The University College Cork student, who studies Early Years and Childhood Studies, paid tribute to her mother Tracey, who passed away in 2023 following a stroke. Linnane, who works in content creation, teaches dance, and raised €4,500 for Cork Stroke Support, changed from a gold gown into a purple dress to perform a contemporary dance routine to Prince's song Purple Rain.

I want children out there to just look up at me and say, 'Well, Lexi's gone through that. Lexi can do that, so can I.'

Other contestants shared family and cultural connections during their appearances. Clare Rose Méabh Holland, a primary school teacher from Sixmilebridge whose parents come from Limerick and Galway, sang the anthem Clare My Heart My Home. Texas Rose Ally Padgett took the stage in a black dress decorated with sparkly roses designed with assistance from her mother. Padgett explained that she took up Irish dancing after discovering her heritage through a 1995 VHS recording of Riverdance.

Health advocacy and addressing critics

Westmeath Rose Caoilfhinn Ní Choiligh used her stage appearance to discuss living with the autoimmune condition alopecia. The 26-year-old retail worker, who is studying to become a wig maker and co-founded the support network The Hair Loss Haven, explained that she began losing hair at age 15 and began wearing wigs at 18. Ní Choiligh demonstrated several of her favourite wigs on stage before removing them to show her bald head, receiving a standing ovation after urging the audience to embrace imperfections.

People say it's just hair, but it's so much more than just hair.

Dublin Rose Suad Mooge addressed public criticism and online racism directed at her since she won the Dublin regional title. Mooge, who is of Somalian descent, spoke directly to host Kathryn Thomas about her national identity and personal resilience during the televised broadcast.

I'm very confident and secure in the fact that I am Irish. I have experienced racism before but don't chose to internalise negative words. I am not going to give power to those opinions.

Community connections and language

London Rose Ciara Fallon, a medical doctor originally from Dublin who grew up in Wembley, performed spoken word and played a musical instrument while describing the Irish diaspora community in London. Monaghan Rose Leah Murphy answered a series of Irish-language catchphrases presented by host Dáithí Ó Sé. The stage programme concluded the first round of contestant selections ahead of the final competitive evening.