All-island, for all, and always free! Culture Night showcases the quality of Irish arts and culture, connecting people of all ages to activities and nurturing new opportunities to engage and experience creativity in every imaginable shape and form.
This year's Culture Night festivities will take place on September 19th. RTÉ will broadcast a Culture Night special programme in English and Irish live from St Nicholas' Church in Galway City on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, featuring a range of live musical performances and highlights from top Culture Night events across the country.
RTÉ 2fm will continue to celebrate the next wave of breakthrough Irish music talent with 2fm Rising x Culture Night, a live gig in the Model in Sligo hosted by Tracy Clifford and broadcast live for RTÉ 2fm’s Beta Da Silva show.
Enjoy a selection of choice Culture Night events across Ireland below:
-Dúlra Forest School in Kildare brings an immersive, bilingual (Gaeilge & English) evening of nature-based craft. This hands-on workshop invites guests to carve butter knives from native Irish wood and finish them by firelight, connecting with the forest and the quiet rhythm of traditional skills.
-The Funky Kongs at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast bring video game nostalgia to life through jazz, funk, bossa nova and swing. This home-grown band reimagines iconic soundtracks from Mario Kart to Final Fantasy, fusing musicianship and playfulness into a high-energy show that's part gig, part gaming celebration.
-An Cladach’s Mad Craic Tea Party in Cork serves up a chaotic mix of riddles, drag, games and immersive theatre. Blending Wonderland whimsy with Irish humour, this wild street performance invites audiences to step into the madness - and maybe even become the next Alice!
-Rising soul-pop frontman Calum Agnew, Hot Press’ New Local Hero 2025, brings his seven-piece band to Meeting House Square for Culture Night Dublin. Expect bilingual Irish and English sets, smoky grooves, horn flourishes, and irresistible charisma in an immersive live performance.
-Mini Pigtown at the Milk Market in Limerick celebrates local food heritage and culture with an open-air cultural evening from 5–8pm. Enjoy a mobile petting farm, Pigtown props, family fun, cafés, street food, vintage shops, a blacksmith demo, and live music from local performers.
-Chango Flamenco-Jazz Fusion in Galway brings together Andalusian dancer and vocalist Fatima Lucia, French-North African clarinetist Alain Halimi, Irish mandolin player Denis McAuliff, and Spanish guitarist Javier Mula for an evening of live music and dance, blending flamenco, jazz, and folk traditions in a vibrant cultural collaboration.
-Ensemble Незламні (Unbreakable) at Westport, Mayo brings together talented Ukrainian and Irish musicians for a cross-cultural Culture Night concert. Expect an eclectic mix of folk and contemporary music, featuring innovative arrangements and a showcase of the ensemble’s collaborative spirit.
-Sound in Motion brings Uke Jam to Monaghan, uniting ukulele enthusiasts from across the region. Beginners and seasoned strummers alike can play, sing, and connect in a relaxed, feel-good music session led by passionate facilitators. Bring your uke, your voice, and your good vibes.
-Experience the beauty of Chairography in Offaly this Culture Night, with a live performance exploring movement from a seated perspective and showing how dance can transcend traditional forms.
-The Des Dillon Puppet Show brings an interactive Culture Night performance to Abbey Street, Tipperary. Try fish, bird, and animal puppets, enjoy the show, and join a community finale of music, movement, and dance with Des.
-Shifting Stages presents Mother Storm at Dublin City Council’s Arts Office in The Lab. This evocative theatre evening explores the complex, powerful experience of motherhood through original pieces, offering an intimate, honest, and often raw look at the challenges and triumphs of being a mother.
Late Night Events:
-ROGU Fire Arts presents Mobius in Cork, a spectacular fire performance with a DJ set by Stevie G to warm up the crowd. Delivered by the Cork Arts Office, this flagship Culture Night event promises high-energy thrills.
-The Blind Fiddle Master’s Concert in Longford brings music and art together to celebrate 19th-century fiddle master Thomas 'Blind’ Kernan, featuring live performances, projection mapping, and interactive visual installations at Connolly Barracks Square.
-Culture Night at The Dock in Leitrim celebrates the richness and diversity of Irish culture with events for all ages and abilities, from Sean-nós steps and Zimbabwean Freedom Dances to an Irish-language gallery tour and a late-night techno house party.
Culture Night 2025 takes place on Friday, September 19th - find an event near you here
