Animation Ireland’s Meitheal, Galway 22 May: Full 2026 Programme Now Unveiled
Skwigly
Animation Ireland has today revealed the full programme for Meitheal 2026, its flagship one-day industry conference taking place in Galway on Friday May 22nd. Supported by Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, the event brings together Ireland’s animation community with leading international voices, alongside professionals from games, VFX, live action and emerging creative talent from across the country.
This year’s programme focuses on expanding global opportunities, exploring new strategies for building IP, and examining the evolving relationship between technology and storytelling. Through a series of panels and in-depth conversations, speakers will share insights on international collaboration, audience development and navigating an industry in rapid transformation.
The event will be hosted by Animation Ireland CEO Ronan McCabe and Chair Moe Honan, with a line-up of Irish and international speakers spanning creative development, production, technology and global markets.
The spirit of Meitheal has never been as important to us in the industry as it is now. To come together, to share knowledge and insights, to collaborate and to work together with our professional community in Ireland, alongside our international partners, as we consolidate, and collegiately build upon the incredible successes our Irish animation industry has achieved.
Moe Honan, Chair of Animation Ireland
Employing more than 2,500 professionals across the island, animation remains a cornerstone of Ireland’s creative industries, with Irish work reaching audiences in over 180 countries and studios recognised globally for both creativity and technical excellence.
Programme Highlights
Bayside Chat: All Things Development
Elizabeth Waybright Taylor, Creative Development Executive and former Vice President of Development at Disney, reflects on her 16-year career shaping global stories, from early concept through to worldwide release and what studios are looking for today in an increasingly competitive landscape.
Bayside Chat: How to Make an Oscar-Nominated Short – Retirement Plan
Director John Kelly offers a candid, behind-the-scenes look at the journey from idea to Academy Award nomination, unpacking the realities of development, financing, production and the festival circuit.
Panel Discussions
Seeking Opportunities in Alternative Markets
Exploring Asia, Latin America, the Nordic region and Central & Eastern Europe as creative partners, this session looks at how producers can build meaningful international collaborations, access new funding streams and tap into emerging production ecosystems.
Panellists: Coral Vázquez Zepeda, Juraj Krasnohorsky, Tonje Skar Reiersen
Moderator: Gerry Shirren
Building IP: Creating Fandom and Accessing Audiences
Industry leaders examine how ideas evolve into scalable IP, how to identify and grow core audiences, and how to build fandoms that sustain long-term success in a crowded global market.
Panellists: Sherry Gunther Shugerman, Dustin Ferrer, Becky Friedman, Harriet Jones
Moderator: Andrew Kavanagh
Where Tech Meets Story: Innovation in the Animation Pipeline
A forward-looking discussion on how emerging tools and technologies are reshaping production — and how innovation can support, rather than overshadow, storytelling.
Panellists: Tamsin Lyons, Francesco Siddi, Jonathan Mortimer, Ben Klimmek
Moderator: Nicky Gogan
Registration for Animation Ireland’s Meitheal 2026 is now open via Eventbrite. Attendance is free and includes refreshments. The conference runs from 9.30am to 5.00pm, followed by an evening networking event with a BBQ. Full programme details are available at https://www.animationirelandmeitheal.ie/schedule
Animation Ireland Meitheal 2026 is supported by Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and RTÉjr, with additional support from Coimisiún na Meán, Enterprise Ireland, Corpay, BCP, Brophy Gillespie, Clancy Tax , Creative Europe Desk Ireland, Creative Ireland, Galway City Council, Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet, Gorilla Post Production, IDA, National Talent Academy Animation and TG4.