North American
2026 Comhaltas Music & Dance Immersion Weekend
Chicago
April 9-12thHosted by the Institute of Traditional Irish Music
“We welcome the Irish music world to Chicago one more time!”
About the Event
Join us for an immersive weekend of Irish traditional music and help sustain the living tradition of this rich cultural heritage.
Book Now
Book a room in the room block, get your all-weekend ticket, or sign up for specific events à la carte.(Please note: Rooms booked outside of the block jeopardize the success of the weekend.)
Sponsorship
& Donation
Help make the weekend a success and consider sponsorship.
About the Event
This immersive weekend brings together musicians and dancers of all levels for four days of music, learning, and community.Participants will experience music, dance, language, and Irish culture/history classes with a broad range of topics, including Chicago music history, instrumental and singing workshops, as well as set, ceili, and jive dancing classes:
Set dance workshops that include footwork-specific classes by Padraig McEneaney and organized by Margaret Mount and her dance committee.
For kids and teens, a day of immersion in Irish music and dance led by master musicians and dancers.
Céilithe each evening with a cavalcade of Chicago dance bands organized by Pauline Conneely.
The ever-popular late-night set dancing, which keeps the music going until the early hours, is back, featuring music by Katie Grennan and John Williams.
Lectures and talks exploring the history, culture, language, and stories behind the music.
A newly composed Irish Mass by Kathleen Keane and Kathy Cowan, with opportunities to learn the music from the composers in advance and join in a Sunday morning service that will be a highlight of the weekend.
A great venue, experienced in hosting North American CCE events. We are returning to The Northbrook Hilton and have a great menu planned for the weekend.
Whether you are a beginner, a seasoned performer, or simply a lover of Irish culture, the Immersion Weekend offers a chance to deepen your skills, connect with others, and celebrate the living tradition of Irish music and dance in the heart of Chicago.
Book your Hotel
The block extends from Wednesday to Monday, so be sure to only book the dates you need.We expect a sellout for this immersive weekend, so book soon!The Hilton is a favorite event hotel for those who have previously attended the Chicago conventions. We hope you will consider joining us in Chicago for this wonderful immersion weekend. The hotel is close to O'Hare Airport, and there is a shuttle bus that will whisk you over to the public transportation train station if you'd like to go downtown to experience the sights of The Windy City.An easy way to support the convention:
When reserving your stay at the Hilton Northbrook, please book your stay using the convention reservation code 903 – just click on the hotel link above. The convention receives credit for rooms booked with the convention code, which is used to offset the cost of the ballroom and meeting spaces.By staying at the convention hotel, even if you can find slightly cheaper accommodation elsewhere, you will be supporting the convention and don't have to travel to and from events.
Book your weekend package
Full Package includes all weekend events and meals (see below). Discounted pricing for Comhaltas members.Included in the Full Package:
• Friday buffet dinner
• Saturday brunch
• Saturday night banquet, program and ceili
• Sunday brunch
• Plus, workshops and dances from Friday through Sunday (exclusions: Thursday night ceili and late night set dancing)
| Type | Members | Non-Members |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | $295 | $320 |
| Youth | $200 | $225 |
Early bird: Full Package registrations before January 15 receive $25 offLate fee: Full Package registrations after March 1 will have a $25 fee applied
A La Carte Event Tickets
| Event | Members | Non-members |
|---|---|---|
| Meals Only | $230 | $255 |
| Adult Banquet | $80 | $80 |
| Youth Banquet | $60 | $60 |
| Ceili (Thur, Fri, Sun) | $20 | $20 |
| Ceili (Saturday) | $25 | $25 |
| Workshops | $25 each | $25 each |
Sponsorship & Donations
The Immersion Weekend is made possible through the generosity of our community. Sponsorship opportunities:
Youth Immersion Day - $4000
Cultural Exhibit on the History of the Irish in America - $1200
Irish Language Mass - $2000
Irish Language Program - $2000
Individual Workshop Sponsors - $500
Help us keep Irish traditional music and dance thriving by supporting workshops, youth programs, concerts, and cultural events.
Workshop Sponsorship Opportunities - $500 Each
Dance
Set Dance Footwork Class
Friday Ceili Workshop
Friday Set Dance Workshops
Saturday Set Dance Workshops
Jive Dancing
Sunday Set Dance WorkshopInstrumental
Advanced Fiddle
Intermediate Fiddle
Singing
Irish Whistle
Music Workshop: Building Variations
Learn the New Irish Mass Music
Ensemble Playing Workshop
Bodhran
Trends in Irish Music
Fiddle – AdvancedCultural
Irish Music in Chicago in the 1950s and 60s
History of the Irish Musicians Association
Workshops & Lectures - Schedule & Pricing
Thursday
| Title | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Set Dance Footwork Workshop | 4 to 5:30 p.m. | $25 |
Friday
| Title | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Ceili Workshop | 12:30 to 3 p.m. | $25 |
| Set Dance Workshop | 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. | $25 |
| Sean Nós Dance Workshop | 2:30 to 4 p.m. | $25 |
| Irish Language – Beginners | 6 to 7 p.m. | $25 |
| IMA – Try an Instrument | 6 to 7:30 p.m. | Free |
| Singing Workshop | 6 to 7:30 p.m. | $25 |
Saturday
| Title | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Set Dance Workshop | 9:30 to 11 a.m. | $25 |
| Fiddle – Intermediate | 10 to 11:30 a.m. | $25 |
| Whistle for Beginners | 10 to 11:30 a.m. | $25 |
| Chicago in the 1950s and 60s | 10 to 11:30 a.m. | Free |
| Youth Immersion Workshop | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | $25 |
| Music Workshop: Building Variations | 12:30 to 2 p.m. | $25 |
| Learn the New Irish Mass Music | 12:30 to 2 p.m. | $25 |
| Ensemble Playing Workshop | 12:30 to 2 p.m. | $25 |
| Set Dance Workshop | 12:30 to 3 p.m. | $25 |
| Jive Dancing | 2 to 4 p.m. | $25 |
| Bodhran – All Levels | 2:30 to 4 p.m. | $25 |
| Trends in Irish Music | 2:30 to 4 p.m. | $25 |
| Irish Language – Intermediate | 2:30 to 4 p.m. | $25 |
| Set Dance Workshop | 3 to 5 p.m. | $25 |
Sunday
| Title | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Set Dance Workshop | Noon to 1:30 p.m. | $25 |
| Fiddle – Advanced | 12:30 to 2 p.m. | $25 |
| History of the IMA in Chicago | 12:30 to 2 p.m. | $25 |
| IMA – Try an Instrument | 2 to 3 p.m. | Free |
| Post Mass Q&A with composers of New Mass | Noon to 12:30 p.m. | Free |