RTÉ Supporting The Arts this May

RTÉ continues to champion Ireland's creative life this May, supporting a broad range of festivals, exhibitions and performances across music, theatre, literature, film and the visual arts, with RTÉ Supporting the Arts showcasing the depth, diversity and vitality of cultural activity engaging artists and audiences locally, nationally and internationally.

This May, The Dublin Dance Festival and Catherine Young Dance's CISEACH | An Embodied Manifesto showcase contemporary dance practice from leading Irish and international artists, with performances taking place in Dublin and touring nationally. Theatre audiences can enjoy both political and classic drama through The House Must Win, staged in Dublin and Cork, and a new production of An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde at the Gate Theatre, offering a fresh interpretation of the much‑loved work.

N/A — An Ideal Husband comes to The Gate

Nationwide initiatives ensure access to cultural experiences across all ages and communities. The Bealtaine Festival celebrates creativity as we age through events across Ireland, reinforcing inclusive participation in the arts.

Music festivals and concert series continue to thrive across the country. Blackwater Valley Opera Festival presents world‑class opera and recital performances in historic venues in Waterford, while orchestral and chamber music are celebrated through the Limerick Summer Proms 2026, SCS Killaloe Music Festival, Marble City Music Festival, and the West Wicklow Chamber Music Festival.

Milestone anniversaries are marked at the Galway Early Music Festival, celebrating its 30th anniversary, and Ballydehob Jazz Festival, which turns 20, reflecting Ireland’s diverse musical traditions. Vocal and choral music is showcased nationally through Chamber Choir Ireland's spring–summer 2026 season, alongside major international platforms such as Cork International Choral Festival and Limerick Sings International Choral Festival.

Film and visual culture take focus through a range of nationally significant platforms. Fastnet Film Festival continues to support emerging and established filmmakers in West Cork, while the Taylor Wessing Irish Photo Prize at Photo Museum Ireland highlights excellence in contemporary Irish photography. Major exhibitions include William Blake: The Age of Romantic Fantasy at the National Gallery of Ireland and Our, Óir, Ore: Four Millennia of Limerick Silver and Gold at the Hunt Museum, offering audiences insight into artistic, literary and craft heritage spanning centuries. Visual art also plays a vital role in social impact initiatives through the Mental Health Matters national poster campaign and the Incognito Art Sale for Jack and Jill, which supports the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation through an international online auction.

Ireland’s literary landscape remains vibrant and internationally connected. This May the International Literature Festival Dublin 2026 brings writers and thinkers from around the world together in the capital, while Listowel Writers’ Week, celebrating 55 years, continues its long‑standing contribution to Irish literary life. Literary heritage and reflection are central to the Achill Heinrich Böll Memorial Weekend 2026, while Poetry Day Ireland invites public participation nationwide through readings, broadcasts and shared moments.

Regional and community‑led festivals continue to play a vital role in Ireland’s cultural ecosystem. Carlow Arts Festival, Cavan Arts Festival, and Culture Date with Dublin 8 deliver multidisciplinary programmes rooted in local engagement, while Ball Nights – A Celebration of West Kerry Music honours regional musical traditions through a nationwide touring programme. The 2026 Arts and Minds Festival, hosted at Maynooth University, explores the intersection of the arts, mental health and wellbeing, reinforcing the role of creativity in public discourse and social connection.

Events supported by the RTÉ Supporting the Arts scheme this May:

DUBLIN: Dublin Dance Festival

WATERFORD: Blackwater Valley Opera Festival

CORK: Fastnet Film Festival

DUBLIN: Taylor Wessing Irish Photo Prize

NATIONWIDE: Ball Nights - A Celebration of West Kerry Music

IRELAND AND INTERNATIONAL (ONLINE): Incognito Art Sale for Jack and Jill

DUBLIN AND CORK: The House Must Win

NATIONWIDE: Chamber Choir Ireland Spring-Summer 2026 Season

DUBLIN: William Blake: The Age of Romantic Fantasy at NGI

LIMERICK: Limerick Summer Proms 2026

LIMERICK & CLARE: Limerick Sings International Choral Festival