Thousands Expected To Join The City-Wide Celebrations As Culture Night Celebrates 20 Years In The Capital This Friday

Get ready for an evening filled with creativity as Culture Night Dublin celebrates its 20th edition this Friday, 19th September. A wave of creativity will sweep over the city as thousands flood the capital for an unforgettable celebration of arts and culture. From the capital’s iconic heritage sites to its quirky off-beat arts venues, all events are completely free to attend, inviting everyone of all ages to join the celebrations.

Speaking at the launch, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Ray McAdam, invited audiences to join the celebrations:

“Join us on September 19th for the art party of the year as Culture Night celebrates its 20th year in the capital. Culture Night offers a chance for people to explore the city’s hidden gems, unleash your creativity and become a tourist in your own town. It’s wonderful to see that O’Connell Street will be activated with events for the first time, in the year of O’Connell’s 250th anniversary, a fitting tribute to our most famous former Lord Mayor”.

Open-Air Dance Floors 

This Culture Night, an initiative called “City Sounds,” supported by Dublin City Council, will see a number of Dublin’s city streets transformed into open-air dance floors.

Disco heaven awaits at Dame Street’s Central Plaza, with proceedings kicking off at 9 PM with DJ Paddy Fabulous, followed by DJ Shrem, who will celebrate the glittering late-70s and early-80s golden era of Disco. Dublin’s Capel Street is set to erupt into a high-energy tribute to Ireland’s electrifying underground dance music scene. Curated by Echo Exchange, the night will feature electro and techno beats, including sets from RHYTHMICK, RÍAN, Puzzy Wrangler, and Rinse FM resident EMA. Earlier in the evening, Central Plaza will become a Peruvian paradise, showcasing a multicultural dance performance blending traditional styles.

Nocturnal Beats  

For those looking to extend the night into the early hours, Nocturnal Beats, a special late-night music trail, will offer DJ sets across some of the city’s most iconic venues, including Block, Pygmalion, Wigwam, The Grand Social, Tengu, Whelan’s, Fidelity, and The Big Romance. With support from the City’s Night-Time Economy Advisor, entry to all venues will be free on the night.

Live Performance 

The iconic Wood Quay Amphitheatre will be a hive of activity this Culture Night, with a number of specially curated performances, including musician Farah Elle, comedian Sharon Mannion, the Mongolian ethnic group Khuur Band, and funk rockers GrooveLine. Meeting House Square will be stacked with live events from early afternoon until late, including performances from Zeztra, Calum Agnew, Lisa Murray, and Earthmover. There will be family fun set dancing led by Louise O’Connor, while dancer Favour Odusola will perform an extraordinary spectacle fusing Nigerian and Irish culture.

Exhibition & Outdoor Opera

The Lab Gallery on Foley Street will host “Nach Cuma?”, an interactive exhibition featuring games and workshops by mixed-media and socially engaged artist Aaron Sunderland Carey. Meanwhile, Opera in the Open presents a night of opera at Fr. Collins Park in Dublin 13. This special open-air event brings the magic of live performance to the heart of the community, with an evening of operatic favorites, musical theatre classics, and guest performances celebrating Ireland’s rich cultural diversity.

Across The City 

In collaboration with IMMA, the Guinness Storehouse will play host to These Walls – an immersive exhibition celebrating the people and places of Dublin 8, featuring artists Deirdre Breen and Owen de Forge. The National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, will offer a historical tour exploring LGBTQIA+ history as represented in the museum’s collections. Emerging theatre-makers are invited to participate in workshops at The Lir Academy or visit The Gaiety School of Acting for an Introduction to Acting for Camera. The Italian Institute of Culture will showcase “How Italo Disco Made Us Dance!, a nostalgic exploration of the celebrated Italo Disco scene. The Kerlin Gallery will transform into a pop-up bookshop, showcasing monographs, catalogues, and books from their collection of gallery artists. For those who remember the days of Alternative Miss Ireland, The Douglas Hyde is hosting an alternative pageant with contestants of all shapes and sizes battling for the crowning glory. Studio468 at St. Andrew’s Community will be hosting “Echo”, a special listening party featuring the albums of Ziad Rahbani, Odetta Holmes, Julius Eastman, and celebrating the local Dublin communities of Fatima Mansions and Dolphin House.

The 20th edition of Culture Night Dublin will take place on Friday, September 19th from 4pm until very late. See: culturenight.ie

Culture Night is a nationwide celebration of arts and culture in Ireland, brought to you by the Arts Council in partnership with local authorities and cultural organisations throughout the island of Ireland — one night for all