Arts & Creativity Editor Aastha Sabrina Gier lets us in on three favourite unique arts festivals happening in Dublin this autumn

By University Observer | Sep 11 2026

Ireland hosts dozens of festivals throughout the year, such as TradFest, Dublin Pride, and the New Year’s Festival. As we enter September, Dublin prepares to warmly welcome these artistic and creative festivals that are aimed at both literary and theatrical audiences. The city's residents and visitors will experience the rich culture of the Irish arts, as the anticipation and excitement of these festivals fill the crisp autumnal air.

The Dublin Fringe Festival takes place from the 5th to the 20th of September. During these two weeks, there will be an array of performances by artists, actors, comedians and musicians. The Fringe will also feature interactive exhibitions, accessible experiences and host workshops to allow immersion and participation.   

Shows coming to the 2026 Fringe include:

Saoirse, a musical by Shauna Carrick which embraces the Irish language and is to be performed on the Peacock stage at the Abbey Theatre. Having debuted at the Galway Arts Festival earlier this year, Saoirse touches on teenage drama, the first breeze of freedom and young romance while living in a Gaeltacht community in Kerry.

The Politics of Disgust, a production featuring UCD alumni, is coming to this year's fringe. A Play Not Funny production, it was recently developed at the Scene and Heard Festival of New Work. The Politics of Disgust is a sit-down meeting with 2 HR Queens for their productivity and sensitivity training expo.

Rachel Enright Murphy showcases her interdisciplinary play No Obligation at the Temple Bar Gallery. Her work explores the legal language and contractual obligations of the two performers; movement is met with intimacy in this raw, stirring work.

The Theatre Lovett Company stages a production of Kafka’s Doll in the Abbey Theatre. With an ISL accessible performance, this production will bring to life “the imagination of one of literature's most influential figures.” Actors Charlotte Cleary, Louis Lovett and Cormac Mohally will grace the stage for five performances.

Later on in autumn, Dublin City Council opens the doors of clubs, libraries and cathedrals over one October weekend for The Bram Stoker Festival. Last year’s events hosted 60,000 attendees. This festival is an homage to Abraham Stoker, the renowned Irish author, Trinity College alumnus, barrister and literary critic. His most prominent novel Dracula is a celebrated literary masterpiece that is strongly tied to the spooky season.

The programme is set to be announced in late September. You can expect to see annual events return like Stokerland in St. Patrick’s Park with its Victorian take on street theatre, circus performing and funfair rides. Sensing a witch’s brew? That’s because Spooky Stories at Marsh’s Library will be delving into the supernatural. The festival will see Stoker’s literary footprint celebrated across various Dublin theatres and cultural spaces. In St Anne’s Church in 2025, the concert Songs of the Spirits: East Meets West was held, where a fusion of Irish and Japanese music was performed.

Over in Galway, the 40th anniversary edition of the Macnas Halloween Parade will march through the city streets. Taking place on Sunday, October 25th, the procession creates an otherworldly, cosmic experience that brings myths and folklore to life. Last year’s theme was An Treun: The Summoning of the Lost inspired by Stoker’s Gibbet Hill. A screening of the 1964 Japanese horror anthology Kwaidan also took place. This year the theme is Fiáin which means wild in Irish. The parade is supported by the Arts Council and Galway City Council.

Dublin is home to so many festivals taking place this autumn. The Dún Laoghaire Folk Festival, Improv Fest and Open House are also coming up. In September and October, the Dublin Theatre Festival will take over the city; head to Lit & Drama to get the lowdown from Kéoma. Supporting artists and performers in anyway is admirable so do not miss the opportunity to embrace the arts this autumn in any way you can.