Latest Events in Dublin(October Updated)

Get ready for a thrilling four-day, four-night adventure as Dublin transforms into a dazzling Gothic extravaganza this October bank holiday weekend. At one of Dublin’s biggest festivals, the mundane fades into the background, and the extraordinary takes center stage. Whether you’re a curious traveler, a night owl, or a thrill-seeking adventurer, there’s something for everyone, from Goth enthusiasts to families.

The Story of Us: Census 1926 is a landmark exhibition marking this historic release of census records. It explores the world reflected in the census and reveals what life was like in 1926: in towns and cities, across rural communities and islands, from crowded urban tenements to the mansions of the aristocracy. Using contemporary documents and photographs, audio‑visual displays, and — at its heart — the census returns themselves, the exhibition presents a vivid portrait of Ireland a century ago. Visitors will encounter stories of work and daily life, language and culture, sport and entertainment, religion, gender, and the social realities of a newly independent state. The exhibition forms part of a major public programme presented by the National Archives, with events in Ireland, the UK and the United States.

Founded in 2017 by Matthew Melis and The Comics Lab, part of the Stray Lines comic book group, DCAF aims to showcase the work of local comic book creators and celebrate the diverse appeal of Irish comic book art. For years, Ireland's small-scale comic book publishing industry has flourished, but Irish comic book creators often have to travel the world to participate in comic book festivals to exhibit their work. The Dublin Comic Book Festival (DCAF) is a series of quarterly comic book art events held in Dublin, Ireland. The 2026 event will take place on April 19, July 12, October 18, and November 29.

Dublin by Dusk is a brand-new citywide event that brings Dublin's nightlife to life on the last Thursday of every month (starting May 28th). This event blends culture, dining, retail, and experiential activities, with venues across the city extending their hours and offering special events and added-value experiences. From the National Gallery of Ireland and the National Library of Ireland to the National Museum of Ireland, as well as venues like Trinity College Dublin and Bewley's Grafton Street Café, the event showcases the vibrant diversity of Dublin. The event includes exhibitions, extended hours, and more social and creative activities such as pottery painting, live music, and immersive experiences like dark painting under UV light. Numerous businesses and cultural partners have already expressed strong interest, and Dublin by Dusk is expected to attract a large number of participants, injecting new energy into the city as night falls.

To celebrate Ireland's presidency of the Council of the European Union, the National Gallery of Ireland is presenting a special exhibition showcasing approximately fifty exquisite works on paper by European artists. The exhibition encompasses drawings, prints, watercolors, and photographs by European artists from the 15th century to the present day. It explores the diverse themes and styles that have shaped European art over the centuries, reflecting the evolution of artistic taste and techniques, and demonstrating the gallery's strength in collecting various art forms.

Hilma Av Klint is widely recognized as one of Europe's most important abstract painters and one of Sweden's most celebrated modern artists. This exhibition, presented in collaboration with the Hilma Av Klint Foundation, showcases her oil paintings, drawings, and watercolors, marking the first major exhibition of Av Klint's work in Ireland. Av Klint's art is deeply influenced by spirituality and her explorations of the Rosicrucians, Theosophy, and Anthroposophy. Like many of her contemporaries, she sought to understand and interpret the modern world. Drawing inspiration from nature, science, and religion, Av Klint developed a visionary style of abstract painting—full of tension in emotion, spirit, and color. Although portraiture and illustration brought in income for Hilma Av Klint, her spiritual paintings—those considered “great works”—were rarely exhibited outside her circle of friends and family. A large portion of her work remained sealed away until the 1980s, and remained largely unknown outside of Sweden. This exhibition aims to explore the era, place, and context that shaped her unique artistic vision. It will feature important spiritual works such as *The Swan* (1914–1915) and *Altarpiece* (1915), as well as botanical studies, early portraits, and landscapes, some of which have never been publicly exhibited before.