This year, Cruinniú na nÓg will take place on Saturday, June 6. The all-island celebration will host free events across the island, celebrating creativity through music, art, circus, storytelling, film and more.
Ireland is the only country in the world to have a national day celebrating young people’s creativity. Creative Ireland invites young people to explore something new, unleash their creative spark, and be part of this unique celebration of creativity and expression.
Announcing Cruinniú na nÓg 2026, Minister O'Donovan said: "Cruinniú na nÓg continues to be a standout moment in Ireland’s creative calendar, celebrating young people as creators, performers and creative voices. This year’s programme includes over 1,300 free events all over the island of Ireland, alongside the return of Cruinniú Late, which offers dedicated youth-led spaces for teenagers to gather, create and express themselves in a safe environment created by and for young people.
"From Shared Island collaborations to local community events, Cruinniú na nÓg 2026 is ambitious, inclusive and inspiring, reflecting the importance of investing in young people’s ideas, voices and creative potential."
RTÉ is supporting Cruinniú na nÓg with a nationwide campaign on television, radio, online and digital. For full details visit the official website here.
with some of the young people involved at TUD Grangegorman. Photo: Mark Stedman
Highlights for 2026 include:
- RTÉ This is Art! 2026 - Creative Ireland and RTÉ's celebrated national art competition returns with workshops and exhibitions across the country, where young artists collaborate with leading Irish creatives to showcase and celebrate youth creativity.
- Circus Céilí – Six events, as part of Circus Explored and hosted by Irish Street Arts, Circus and Spectacle Network (ISACS) will bring young people and families together to celebrate circus through workshops, performances and new creative collaborations.
- Rock the Block - A high-energy, youth-led celebration of music, dance, and street culture taking place in Shandon in Cork.
- We Own the Castle - A live youth music festival set in the historic surrounds of Swords Castle, giving young performers a chance to take centre stage.
- The Walls Project - During May, workshops in 13 locations will offer young people the opportunity to work with professional mural artists, exploring colour, design, and graffiti techniques to create large-scale public artworks.
- Youth Theatre Ireland Gatherings - 21 youth theatre groups will unite in five regional hubs to collaborate, perform, and celebrate their creativity as part of the Youth Theatre Ireland project.
- Aran Islands – Galway County Council will deliver ten events as Gaeilge across Inis Mór, Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr, including circus skills, drama, illustration, mosaic, drumming, spray paint and a silent disco.
Today's launch featured a special performance by Garageland Galaxyz artists Aerial – a 4-piece band from Dublin, and solo performer Eabha O'Keeffe who will perform at 'We Own the Castle' at Swords Castle on 6 June.
Also getting the party started were members of Youth Theatre Ireland ambassadors Ella Jurascheck and Sam Whelan, Megan Hogan for Waterford Walls, Circus Explored reps Sadhbh White and Molly Noone, and Robyn Faith Summerbell, ambassador for RTÉ's This Is Art!
Building on its success last year, Cruinniú Late, supported by the Department’s Late-Night Economy Initiative will once again feature youth-led late-night events, created by and for 13 to 18-year-olds, where young people are invited into welcoming spaces for creativity, connection and self-expression.
Events include 'We own the Castle', a youth music festival at Swords Castle, Dublin, 'Rebel Teen Social Hive’ in Cork City, and ‘Youth Stage’ in Galway’s Father Burke Park with quizzes, open mic, spoken word, live music and DJ sets from young talent aged 16-18.
Cruinniú na nÓg is an initiative of the Creative Ireland Programme, in partnership with 31 local authorities and RTÉ.
