August 6, 2026: Culture Night 2026 will return on Friday, 18 September, inviting people across Ireland to come together for a night of free cultural discovery, creativity and connection in towns, cities, villages and rural communities nationwide.

Following a landmark 2025 edition, which saw more than 1,800 free events take place across Ireland, this year’s programme will continue to celebrate the artists, venues, organisers and communities who bring Culture Night to life locally.

At the heart of Culture Night is the ethos of One Night for All. A shared night of culture that is welcoming, local and free. Whether planning a full evening of events, joining something nearby on the night, bringing family and friends along, or seeing a familiar place in a new way, people across Ireland are invited to take part and connect through culture.

Now in its 21st year, Culture Night is stewarded by the Arts Council in partnership with Local Authorities across Ireland, with support from the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport. Together, they bring one of Ireland’s most-loved cultural moments to life locally, creating a night where familiar places can feel different, unexpected spaces can be discovered, and people of all ages can experience the richness of culture on their doorstep.

Across every county, the 2026 programme will span music, theatre, dance, visual art, literature, film, spoken word, workshops, exhibitions, Irish-language events, family experiences, late-night activity and moments in unexpected spaces. From libraries, theatres and concert halls to streets, coastal settings, community spaces and venues after dark, Culture Night will celebrate the breadth, energy and imagination of culture in Ireland today.

Culture Night 2026 will be represented by GAA football player turned fashion designer Paul Galvin, sean-nós singer and content creator Máire Ní Churraoin, Booker Prize 2026 longlisted author Djamel White, and night-time economy advocate and entrepreneur Andrea Horan, who will help share the invitation to take part with people across Ireland.

Culture Night Ambassador, Paul Galvin, said: “I’m delighted to be part of Culture Night 2026. It is a fantastic celebration of the creativity, talent and cultural life that make Ireland unique. My own journey from sport into design has shown me that creativity is about much more than what is on the surface. It is about identity, heritage, community and the stories that connect us.

“Storytelling is at the heart of how we understand who we are and where we come from, and Culture Night gives people across Ireland the chance to experience those stories in so many different ways. Whether you are visiting a familiar place in a new way or discovering something completely unexpected, it is an opportunity to take part, celebrate the culture around us and help keep it thriving for future generations.”

Full programme details, including participating venues, booking information, accessibility details and event updates, will be available on www.culturenight.ie/events, with further listings continuing to be added in the lead-up to Friday, 18 September.

Speaking recently, ahead of the launch of Culture Night 2026, Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, said:

“For over two decades, Culture Night has been a firm highlight in Ireland’s cultural calendar, and I am heartened to see how the programme continues to develop and evolve each year. My department is proud to support Culture Night through the Arts Council and local authority arts offices.

“I extend a warm welcome to everyone to be part of this vibrant celebration of culture in Ireland, with activities set to take place in cities, towns, villages and rural communities throughout Ireland. I am delighted that many events will run late into the night, including Culture Night Late events funded with additional support from my department through the Night-Time Economy initiative.”

Maura McGrath, Chair of the Arts Council, added:

“Culture Night is made possible by an extraordinary collective effort in every part of the country. The Arts Council is proud to work in partnership with local authorities and with the artists, venues, libraries, galleries, theatres, studios, cultural organisations, community groups and organisers who bring such care, creativity and local knowledge to the programme each year.

“What makes Culture Night so special is that it meets people where they are. It creates moments of welcome and discovery in towns, cities, villages and rural communities across Ireland, and reminds us that arts and culture belong in everyday life, in familiar places, unexpected spaces and shared experiences.”

Culture Night 2026 programme highlights

Culture Night 2026 will bring together hundreds of free events across Ireland, celebrating the artists, venues, communities and cultural spaces that make each place unique. From large-scale public moments to intimate performances, hands-on workshops and events in unexpected settings, the programme will offer people many ways to experience culture, whether they are planning ahead or deciding on the night.

Standout events taking place across the country this year include:

• In Tipperary, Cloughjordan Cine Club presents an outdoor film screening, inviting people to gather for a shared cinema experience in the open air as part of this year’s Culture Night programme. 
• In Roscommon, UNDERCURRENT presents Cultural Dance Celebration, bringing movement, performance and community together in an event that celebrates cultural expression through dance. 
• In Offaly, Howling in the Metaverse: Ode to the Irish Wolf will offer audiences a distinctive Culture Night experience exploring Irish identity, imagination and storytelling through a contemporary lens. 
• In Wicklow, an Indian Classical Music Concert will celebrate the depth and beauty of Indian musical traditions, adding to the breadth of cultural experiences taking place across Ireland for Culture Night. 
• At the National Concert Hall in Dublin, National Symphony Orchestra Ireland presents Culture Night with Alexander Shelley & Jess Gillam, bringing audiences together for a special Culture Night performance featuring the National Symphony Orchestra Ireland under the baton of Alexander Shelley, with saxophonist Jess Gillam. 
• In Cork, Cork City Libraries at Grand Parade presents Uncovering Treasures: An Evening of Discovery at the Library, inviting visitors to explore the library in a new way through stories and cultural treasures. 

Culture Night Late

Culture Night Late will return in 2026, bringing the energy of Culture Night into the evening with free events designed for after-dark discovery. Supported by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport through the Night-Time Economy initiative, the late-night programme will celebrate Ireland’s cultural life after dark through music, performance, visual art, film, spoken word, nightlife, public spaces and venues that come alive after hours.

Culture Night Late highlights include:

• In Cork, The Devils in the Dance Hall at City Hall will bring audiences into an immersive dance and theatre performance inspired by the true story of Jimmy Gralton and Ireland’s historic dance halls. 
• In Waterford, Culture Night Late at Theatre Royal will see the venue host an after-hours takeover featuring live sets, spoken word and DJs. Spotlighting emerging independent artists through Luca Records & Decks and Slip of the Tongue, the event will extend the energy of Culture Night into the evening for younger audiences and late-night culture seekers. 
• In Galway, media artist Serhii Khadzhava presents 8 Bits of Galway, a playful 3D mapping experience that reimagines the façade of Lynch’s Castle through the visual language of classic 1990s platform games. Transforming one of Galway’s most iconic historic landmarks into a vibrant arcade-inspired world, the artwork will offer audiences a new way to see the city after dark.
• In Dublin, Miss Powder Vacuum 2026 at The Douglas Hyde Gallery of Contemporary Art will bring cabaret, live performance, music and pageantry together for the return of artist Bill Harris’s offbeat competition. Commissioned by The Douglas Hyde with support from Dublin Fringe Festival, the event will see contestants compete across evening wear and talent categories in pursuit of the crown. 

Irish-language events

Culture Night 2026 will also celebrate Irish as a living and creative part of Ireland’s cultural life, with Irish-language and bilingual events taking place across the country. Through music, storytelling, literature, performance, workshops and community-led programming, people will be invited to experience the Irish language in ways that feel open and welcoming, whether they are fluent speakers, learners, families or simply curious.

Irish-language and bilingual highlights include:

• In Donegal, Oíche Amhránaíochta le Clíona Ní Ghallachóir will offer an evening of song with 2025 Sean-Nós na mBan winner Clíona Ní Ghallachóir, celebrating the richness of Irish-language song and tradition. 
• In Waterford, Bop ar an Trá will bring young adults together for an outdoor music event celebrating the Irish language and Gaeltacht culture on the Déise coast. 
• In Moycullen, County Galway, Le Chéile will present a vibrant community celebration featuring newly created theatre, traditional music, storytelling and dance performances by local artists and participants of all ages.

Culture Night from home

Those unable to attend Culture Night events in person will have lots of opportunities to engage with the programme from home. RTÉ will again celebrate Culture Night on Friday 18th September with an exciting schedule of live programmes across its television, radio and online services.  Live performances will take centre stage across RTÉ One, RTÉ Player, RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ 2fm and RTÉ lyric fm, as RTÉ once again puts the spotlight on the richness and diversity of cultural talent in Ireland today.  

Further details of RTÉ’s Culture Night 2026 programming will be announced in the coming weeks.

People are encouraged to explore the programme, make a plan, or see what is happening near them on the night by visiting www.culturenight.ie. 

Follow Culture Night across social media for programme updates, local highlights and event inspiration in the lead-up to Friday, 18 September.

Join the conversation:

#CultureNight 
#OícheChultúir

ENDS

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