Rose of Tralee 2026: Westmeath’s Caoilfhinn Ní Choiligh crowned at the 66th festival

The 2026 crown has gone to Westmeath

The 25-year-old was named winner by presenters Dáithí Ó Sé and Kathryn Thomas in the Dome on Tuesday evening, and takes a €25,000 prize package with the title.

Thirty-two Roses took to the stage across Monday and Tuesday night, several of them travelling from as far away as Australia.

"I am not usually speechless. I don’t think this is real, I am actually just so overwhelmed. I honestly would not have been able to do any of this without these girls."

- Caoilfhinn Ní Choiligh

How the 2026 Rose of Tralee winner was chosen

The victor was selected by a judging panel made up of RTÉ weather and National Lottery presenter Nuala Carey, Aisling Murphy of Murphy’s New Homes, fashion designer Don O’Neill and Maggie Flaherty, the 1974 Rose of Tralee.

The panel spends five days among the Roses in both formal and casual settings, so viewers at home see only a fraction of the judging, the Irish Mirror reported.

Alongside the cash, Ní Choiligh will drive a new fully electric Kia EV3 for the next 12 months and has free stays at Tralee’s Meadowlands Hotel. She said she would use the prize package to travel the world helping to unite the worldwide Irish community.