Card spending jumps 18% over Cork's Guinness Jazz Festival 

Adrian Younge and the Adrian Younge Orchestra performing at The Everyman Theatre during the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival. The festival concludes on Monday. Picture: Darragh Kane

Spending on this year's Guinness Jazz Festival is up by around 18%, according to card data from Revolut, while the success of this year's festival will deliver a €45m injection into the local economy. 

The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival closes on Monday after another successful event. The festival celebrated its 47th year bringing more than 500 musicians and 100,000 revellers to Cork city.

According to Revolut, which has more than 3m customers in Ireland,  in-person card spending across Co. Cork rose by over 18% on last year’s event. Over 17% more was spent in Cork bars, cafes, and restaurants over the 2025 weekend versus 2024. 

Taxi drivers also benefited from the festival, with a more than 16% uplift in revenues during this year’s event. 

“Consumer spending of this level across just a handful of days really highlights the value of the festival for the county but also Ireland," a Revolut spokesperson said.

Cork Business Association president Dave O'Brien said the local hospitality sector had delivered "exceptional expriences" for festival-goers. 

“The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival is the biggest weekend in Cork City," said Mr O'Brien. 

Hotels, restaurants, bars, and local businesses all get a welcome jazz uplift and have seen a surge in trade this year as the festival continues to grow in strength. 

The free jazz trail saw over 70 pubs and venues in Cork City, Douglas, and Kinsale participating. "The Guinness Music Trail has also been a massive success, with venues packed to capacity. And the Big Fringe drew record crowds, filling the streets with incredible energy," said festival director Mark Murphy.

Cork Airport welcomed more than 62,000 passengers over the October Bank Holiday weekend with overall traffic expected to be 12% higher than last year.

Vintners Federation of Ireland president and owner of Cork city's The Castle Inn, Michael O’ Donovan, said this year exceeded all expectations with big numbers in the city early each day. 

"It’s great to see everyone dress up and really enjoying the music and fun in the city. Guinness Cork Jazz gives such an economic boost to the pub trade at a vital time each year.”