The twenty-first edition of Culture Night/Oíche Chultúir returns to Galway City on Friday, 18 September, with free cultural events taking place across the city from 4pm until late. A national moment, celebrating culture, creativity and the Arts, it will bring Galway's rich culture and diversity to the forefront and make the Arts in all its forms accessible to everyone. Check out our top picks right here…
Culture Night / Oíche Chultúir is delivered nationwide in cities, towns, villages and rural locations as well as online and through national media. Culture Night is an initiative of the Arts Council and is managed locally by Galway City Arts Office. To learn more about all the projects they are working on and the great work that they do, follow them on their socials - on Facebook, on Instagram and on Twitter.
On the night doors will remain open later as special events take place at participating locations, all of which will be available to the public free of charge. From music and visual arts to heritage, performance and community-led events, this year’s programme reflects the richness and diversity of Galway's cultural life.
Discover the full programme here.
above: Taibhsín: Ó Bhrionglóid go Beo, photo by Laurence Winram
Taibhsín: Ó Bhrionglóid go Beo
Start time: 7.30pm
Where: An Taibhdhearc
More information here
This Culture Night, An Taibhdhearc throws open its doors and welcomes people into the theatre to experience the work in-progress of its Taibhsín artists, with a celebration of a year spent dreaming, writing and making at the National Irish Language Theatre. New stories will move from page to stage for the first time with works in progress from Ciara Ní É, Louisa Ní Éidean and Seán Mac Dhonnagáin, alongside a new spoken-word piece as Gaeilge, Litir do Mhacasamhail, by Ola Majekodunmi. Taibhsín: Ó Bhrionglóid go Beo offers audiences the chance to encounter these works at a pivotal moment – as they make the leap from development to performance. Audiences are welcome to attend the entire evening or for individual performances.
Pálás an Phobail - Tasting a Sense of Place
Start time: 7pm
Where: Festival Printworks Gallery, Market Street (Next to the Portershed a Dó)
More information here
Architecture at the Edge is partnership with Hinterland will create a series of spaces of encounter for Culture Night, - curated by Blanka Major - connecting an outdoor installation on Druid Lane, a happening at the Mick Lally Theatre, and a culinary exploration at the Festival Printworks Gallery through the shared theme of belonging. At its heart is an edible installation that takes the form of a Pálás an Phobail—a People’s palace—where the everyday rituals of gathering, eating, listening, and exchanging ideas unfold through food, sound, and conversation. Guests move through a sequence of spaces shaped by stories and sensory encounters, each revealing a different relationship between food, landscape and memory—inviting them to taste a sense of place. From a canopy of flags stretching across the street and a performative public interior, to solitary moments and shared tables, the evening explores how places—and people—come to belong through the encounters they foster, the stories they carry, and the memories they create.
Cartoonists to Caricature Galway Faces
Start time: 4.30pm
Where: Town Hall Theatre
More information here
Jim Cogan, whose cartoons have entertained readers and satirised Irish society in the pages of the Irish and Sunday Independent and The Phoenix, is coming to Galway for a special Culture Night 2026 event. Jim will join Galway artist Margaret Nolan at the Town Hall Theatre for an evening of portraits and caricatures from 4.30pm to 6pm. People attending this unique event can have their portrait drawn on glass by Margaret or have their likeness rendered in the characteristic and iconic Jim Cogan style. Taking place in the Town Hall Theatre foyer, this is a first-come, first-served, event and early arrival is strongly advised. Budding cartoonists will also be enticed by a board with face shaped blanks where people can draw their own faces.
Blind Book Speed Friending
Start time: 4pm
Where: Plámás
More information here
Blind Book Speed Friending is a free, welcoming event designed to bring people together through a shared love of reading and conversation. Hosted at Plámás, the Culture Night event invites participants to discover new books and new connections in a relaxed and inclusive setting. Attendees will bring along a favourite book wrapped or concealed, sharing only a few intriguing clues about its themes, characters, or atmosphere. Through a series of short, facilitated conversations, participants will meet fellow readers, discuss literature, and exchange recommendations before revealing their chosen titles.
Eight Tonnes - Artists Reimagine Traditional Tractor Parades
Start time: 9am
Where: St. Michael’s Square, Ballinasloe
More information here
Eight Tonnes brings together an eclectic mix of artistic voices to celebrate Ballinasloe's agricultural heritage in a new light. Ballinasloe based performers Breda Larkin (comedian and performer) and Ultan Conlon (musician and composer) join Clifden-based dancer and choreographer Linda Schirmer, Dublin-based digital artist Kev Freeney and Limerick native and new media artist Scott Robinson to turn the familiar sight of a tractor parade into a striking night-time experience - part performance, part celebration, part tribute to the machinery and rhythms that shape rural life. The project is proud to have the support of Macra Galway whose links to young farmers reflect the community and agricultural spirit at the heart of Eight Tonnes. Dancers from In-Step Stage School Ballinasloe are also joining the project, working alongside dancer Linda Schirmer.
Artspace Studios 40th Anniversary: Stories on Screen
Start time: 4pm
Where: The Kenny Gallery
More information here
This Culture Night, The Kenny Gallery welcomes Artspace Studios for an incredible celebration of four decades of artist-led practice, community and collaboration with a special programme of films.
Galway City Night-Time Economy – 8 Bits of Galway by Media Artist Serhii Khadzhava
Start time: 8pm
Where: the façade of Lynch’s Castle
More information here
8 Bits of Galway is a playful and visually captivating 3D mapping experience that reimagines the façade of Lynch’s Castle, one of Galway’s most iconic historic landmarks. Transforming the building into a vibrant, arcade-inspired world, the artwork draws on the visual language of classic 1990s platform games. Through a series of short visual “levels”, the artwork offers a glimpse of Galway in an 8-bit aesthetic. Hosting this experience is Sergey Khadzhava, a Ukrainian media artist based in Ireland, working across immersive audiovisual installations, projection mapping, and live visuals. With over ten years’ experience, he has created works for Electric Picnic, All Together Now, Beyond The Pale, Night And Day Festival and other events across Ireland and worldwide, transforming public environments into engaging visual experiences, blending of physical and digital worlds, creating memorable shared experiences for audiences.
Artist Working Talks
Start time: 6pm
Where: Just Art It
More information here
Join Just Art It for an Artist Working Talk with Elena Santos and her guest, leading Galway creative Aideen Barry, offering honest insights into the realities of artistic practice. This free/ticketed event highlights multidisciplinary career pathways, shared skills and lived experience, accompanied by an exhibition of the featured artist’s work.
Faoi do Lámh é
Start time: 4pm
Where: The Ardilaun Hotel
More information here
Taking place at The Ardilaun Hotel, Faoi do Lámh é is an exhibition and historical overview of traditional craftsmanship from times gone by. As part of this event there will also be a discussion and debate about areas where people had to rely on their manual skills to secure food during times of hardship.
Forge Clay Studios – Ceramic Workshops
Start time: 5pm
Where: The Forge Clay Studios
More information here
Get hands-on creative this Culture Night with the Forge Clay Studios’ two free adult workshops that invite participants to explore clay through playful creativity and mindful making. From imaginative creatures with Aoife Natsumi Frehan ( at 5-7pm) to coil‑and‑slab vessel building with Emma O’Toole (at 8-10pm), all experience levels are welcome. Materials provided.
Galway Street Art Collab at Neon City Skates
Start time: 6pm
Where: Doughiska Skatepark
More information here
In collaboration with Galway Skate Association, at this event young participants will learn spray-painting skills through guided workshops, creating graffiti art on plywood panels. For Culture Night, Neon City Skates will transform Doughiska Skatepark into a vibrant celebration of skateboarding, creativity, music, and community. The project promotes creativity, safe practice, and respect for public spaces while encouraging positive engagement with skate culture and street art.
above: photo by Anita Murphy
The Pop-up Céilí!
Start time: 6pm
Where: Eyre Square
More information here
Back for another fantastic night of dance and celebration, Galway Céilí Club is bringing the city’s set‑dancing heritage to life with an outdoor céilí in Eyre Square at 6.30pm, open to all with dances called throughout. Crossroads performances follow at 8pm and 9pm, with The Hidden Maple providing vibrant live traditional music to keep everyone dancing all night.
T-Shirt Design for Adults
Start time: 6.30pm
Where: Ballybane Community Hub
More information here
Come and join in the fun and get creative at this t-shirt design workshop for adults at Ballybane Community Hub. Using spray paint and stencil techniques, participants will create their own personalised wearable artwork in a relaxed and supportive setting. Developed in response to local interest, this hands-on workshop offers adults the chance to explore creativity, learn new skills and have fun.
Split the Bill: Culture Night Takeover
Start time: 5pm
Where: Róisín Dubh
More information here
Split the Bill is back this Culture Night for an unforgettable takeover of the Róisín Dubh in partnership with Strange Brew Presents. Bringing you on the night a stacked, all-ages lineup of the best young acts around, live on the big stage. Featuring: Copernicus II, Big Nothing, Cats!, Infared, and Mentality. All ages welcome, it’s free entry.
Worship the Fool
Start time: 7.30pm
Where: Dangan House Café
More information here
Worship The Fool is a one woman clown cabaret show exploring the things that we worship, how we worship them and why. This show fuses standup comedy, clowning, puppetry and music, dance and drag with dazzling results. It’s a funny, uplifting and interactive performance filled with an array of extravagantly costumed, comedic characters that will bring you on a journey to enlightenment. Worship the Fool allows people to come together in a non-denominational place of worship to pray, sing, laugh and connect with each other while looking inward, reflecting on our own lives and thinking about how we want to spend our time on this earth. The show will open with music from Jennifer Cunningham and band which will continue as a soundscape for the show.
Walking Tour: Some Galway Institutions
Start time: 5pm
Where: Begins at entrance to Galway City Museum
More information here
The year’s Culture Night walkabout, Some Galway Institutions, explores the history of some of the city’s institutions, including orphanages, industrial schools, the workhouse, asylums, and Magdalene laundries. At each location, one of nine speakers will tell the story of an institution and its place in Galway’s history. The free event begins promptly at 5pm at the entrance to Galway City Museum. Participants are asked to arrive in good time and dress appropriately for the weather. This event is curated by historian John Cunningham, the walkabout is presented by Galway City Museum with the support of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society.
An Immersive Painting Workshop with artist Siobhán Quirke
Start time: 7pm
Where: Setu Studio, Clarinbridge
More information here
Galway Artist Siobhán Quirke is facilitating an immersive painting experience in the relaxed and welcoming setting of Setu Studio. Participants will have the opportunity to explore colour, texture and creative expression through a guided workshop inspired by local landscapes. You will leave with your own unique artwork to bring home. No previous painting experience is necessary.
A Celebration Of The Musical & Culinary Flavours Of Oranmore
Start time: 5.30pm
Where: Oranmore Village
More information here
Call into the pop-up tented village in Oranmore for an Evening Of Songs & Tunes from local musicians while sampling complimentary tasters from Oranmore’s international cuisine, kindly provided by the artisan restaurants and cafes in the village. The event is suitable for all ages and offers an opportunity for the community to come together, unwind, socialise and have some craic!
Athenry in Colour
Start time: 5pm
Where: Athenry Library
More information here
Athenry in Colour is a relaxed drop-in art session inviting participants to creatively reinterpret Athenry’s heritage and historic landmarks through expressive colour and drawing. Using prepared outline illustrations and visual references inspired by local sites such as Athenry Castle, the Abbey, and the town’s historic buildings, participants will be encouraged to experiment with bold, imaginative colour choices and create their own unique interpretations rather than focusing on realistic representation. During the session, Tanya McGarry will also demonstrate her artistic process, showing how colour, composition, and expressive techniques can be used to transform familiar places and create a more vibrant interpretation of the town. The workshop explores how colour can transform familiar heritage spaces and encourages people to look at Athenry from a fresh and creative perspective. Alongside the workshop, a small exhibition of Tanya McGarry’s Athenry-inspired artworks will be displayed in the library, celebrating the town’s character, history, and visual identity.
Creative Workshop: Gelli Plate Printing & Handmade Notebook Making
Start time: 4pm
Where: Hidden Gem, Gort
More information here
Gelli Plate printing is a form of mono-printing that allows you to create one-of-a-kind prints using acrylic paints, a soft gel printing plate, a brayer (roller), and a variety of simple tools and techniques. In the workshop, you will experiment with creating some textures, making patterns, and incorporating natural or everyday objects to produce unique printed papers. No previous experience is needed, this workshop perfect for beginners as well as anyone looking to explore a new creative process. Participants will be encouraged to experiment freely, with guidance. Every print is different, resulting in a beautiful collection of personalised papers to take home. Once you’ve produced a bunch of pages, you’ll make them into a handmade notebook using a simple bookbinding technique. This easy method creates a practical and unique notebook that can be used as a journal, sketchbook, or thoughtful handmade gift. The workshop is suitable for adults and children aged 8 years and over.
Culture Night at Hymany Park – celebrating Traveller traditions
Start time: 4pm
Where: Basketball Court, Hymany Park, Ballinasloe
More information here
Misleór Festival of Nomadic Cultures, in partnership with Ballinasloe Traveller Women’s Group and supported by Galway Rural Development, will present a vibrant community celebration at Hymany Park in Ballinasloe. This free, family-friendly outdoor event celebrates Traveller culture through music, storytelling, craft, food and shared cultural experiences, creating opportunities for participation, cultural exchange and community connection. Visitors can explore traditional Traveller life through displays of traditional wagons and a handmade wattle tent, alongside demonstrations of tinsmithing, griddle bread baking, paper flower making and traditional tent-building skills. Members of the Traveller community will share songs, stories and the Cant language, offering audiences an opportunity to engage with living Traveller traditions. The programme will also feature live music, a photographic exhibition celebrating local Traveller identity, traditional games such as Jax, children’s activities including face painting and hair braiding, hands-on arts and crafts, including beady pocket making, and traditional refreshments.
Frame by Frame: Inside the World of Stop Motion
Start time: 6pm
Where: Stiúideo Fia
More information here
Step behind the scenes of Stiúideo Fia, a professional stop-motion animation studio based in the heart of Conamara, and discover the magic of filmmaking one frame at a time. As part of Culture Night 2026, this free, family-friendly event offers a rare opportunity to explore a working animation studio and meet the artists who create handcrafted worlds for film and television. Throughout the evening, visitors can explore beautifully crafted puppets, miniature sets, props and costumes while learning how stop-motion animation transforms still objects into living characters. Watch live demonstrations of puppet animation, model making, sculpting and character design, and gain an insight into the creative process behind professional productions. Visitors of all ages will also have the chance to try their hand at creating a simple stop-motion animation using professional equipment, with guidance from the studio team. Presented bilingually in Irish and English, Frame by Frame celebrates imagination, traditional craft skills and the growing creative industries in the west of Ireland.
Tasty Tunes n’ Tapas
Start time: 8pm
Where: Cornerstone
More information here
The Unboxed team will once again bring a selection of Tasty Vinyl Tunes to Oranmore and set up outside Cornerstone. Those of you choosing to eat inside the café itself (booking is advised), sampling their delicious selection of wines and local produce, will be treated to the same tasty tunes to accompany their tasty tapas! And as always: an open invitation is extended to anyone who wants to dust off their old records - simply reach out to unboxed.oranmore@gmail.com if you want to bring some records to play on the night.
Feature photo by Chaosheng Zhang
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