Kilkenny establishes itself as leading wedding location in Ireland, with six trophies at annual Wedding Venue Awards

Kilkenny has emerged as the standout county at the inaugural Wedding Venue Awards, taking home six major titles - including Grand Prix for Langton's Hotel - on a night that recognised the very best wedding venues and teams across Ireland and Northern Ireland.

On Monday night (March 23) the inaugural Wedding Venue Awards by WeddingDates brought together Ireland and Northern Ireland’s leading wedding venues and teams for a sold-out evening celebrating the spaces where some of life’s most meaningful moments unfold.

More than 20,000 weddings take place across the island of Ireland each year. At the centre of each are venues that host moments that stay with people for decades. These venues are the settings where hundreds of thousands of people gather each year to celebrate love and connection.
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The Wedding Venue Awards 2026 recognised these venues and the teams behind them whose work shapes these experiences.

“We’re celebrating spaces where guests laugh at awkward best man speeches, shed a tear during father of the bride speeches, watch first dances with quiet emotion, and fill dancefloors when Rock the Boat inevitably plays," said Ciara Crossan.

Kilkenny winners shine 
Kilkenny venues were recognised across a range of categories, highlighting both quality and consistency across the county’s wedding offering.
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Kilkenny winners included:

Best Outdoor Venue — Mountain View, Kilkenny
Best City/Town/Urban Venue — Langton's Hotel Kilkenny, Kilkenny
Most Inclusive Wedding Venue — Langton's Hotel Kilkenny, Kilkenny
Best Wedding Hotel in Leinster — Newpark Hotel Kilkenny, Kilkenny
Best Wedding Coordinator/Team in Leinster — Langton's Hotel Kilkenny, Kilkenny

In addition, Langton's Hotel Kilkenny was awarded the overall Grand Prix, recognising it as the standout wedding venue across all categories.

“We’re recognising the teams behind those moments, they are the people who bring joy to thousands of couples every year and make each celebration feel special and they do it again and again consistently," Ciara Crossan said.

Winners of the Wedding Venue Awards were selected through a combination of public voting, an expert judging panel, and testimonials from couples who celebrated their weddings at each venue.

“Our judges were particularly struck by couples reminiscing about their wedding day at these venues. The emotional connection people have to these places is very clear. They are not just locations, but anchors for some of the most enduring and meaningful memories in people’s lives.”

A Strong Showing for Kilkenny
With five category wins and the overall Grand Prix, Kilkenny has firmly established itself as one of Ireland’s leading wedding destinations.

The awards reflect the diversity of venues across the island of Ireland: from castles and country houses to urban spaces and coastal destinations and these are alongside a growing demand for sustainable and inclusive wedding experiences.