RTÉ Supporting the Arts is supporting 28 cultural events nationwide this September

RTÉ Supporting the Arts is delighted to spotlight a diverse range of arts, culture and heritage events taking place across Ireland this month. September offers an exciting programme of theatre, literature, music, film, visual arts, and cultural events across the country.  From major festivals and theatrical performances to exhibitions, opera, film festivals and family-friendly celebrations, audiences nationwide are invited to experience the richness and diversity of Ireland’s cultural landscape throughout the month.

One of the highlights of the month will be Culture Night, when thousands of people across Ireland will have the opportunity to engage with arts and cultural experiences through free events in museums, galleries, libraries, theatres and public spaces.

September also marks the return of two major theatre festivals. The internationally renowned Dublin Theatre Festival brings artists and audiences together from across Ireland and beyond, while the Dublin Fringe Festival showcases innovative and emerging performance work throughout the capital.

Ireland’s leading theatre organisations continue to present exceptional work throughout September. Audiences can enjoy productions at the Abbey Theatre and Gate Theatre in Dublin, while Druid Theatre’s acclaimed production of A Moon for the Misbegotten by Eugene O’Neill tours Galway and Dublin.

New writing is represented through The Gate: Meredith by Erica Murray, adding to a strong season of Irish theatrical storytelling.

Music lovers can experience a wide range of performances throughout the month. Irish National Opera continues its nationwide programme, while Opera Collective Ireland presents Jonathan Dove’s acclaimed chamber opera Mansfield Park in Dublin.

The launch of the National Concert Hall Classical Season 2026/2027 offers audiences an exciting programme of orchestral, chamber and recital performances. Classical music enthusiasts can also enjoy the Wigmore Series Dublin 2026/2027 at the Royal Irish Academy of Music.

Across the country, the National String Quartet Foundation’s September Tours feature performances by the ConTempo, Kantos and Lir Quartets, while Crash Ensemble’s “Everything is Connected” by Ed Bennett travels to venues in Wexford, Kildare, Sligo, Dublin, Galway and Wicklow.

Chamber music takes centre stage at the Westport Festival of Chamber Music in Mayo, while the New Ross Piano Festival returns to Wexford with a distinguished programme of international artists and emerging talent.

Jazz audiences can enjoy performances at the Limerick Jazz Festival, while contemporary music continues to find new audiences through ambitious projects such as Sounds from a Safe Harbour presents… SIRENS, taking place across Ireland and internationally.

September presents significant exhibitions and visual arts experiences around Ireland. The Irish Museum of Modern Art continues to showcase IMMA Collection: Art as Agency, while the major exhibition Technologies of Peace: Art and Transition in Contemporary Europe (1989-2026) offers audiences an opportunity to explore contemporary artistic responses to social and political change.

The Royal Hibernian Academy Gallery hosts Una Sealy: Time Lines, and the Hunt Museum in Limerick presents Our, Óir, Ore: Four Millennia of Limerick Silver and Gold, highlighting the region’s rich artistic and craft heritage.

In Galway, the Architecture at the Edge Festival 2026 explores architecture, design and the built environment through a programme of exhibitions, conversations and public events.

Film audiences can enjoy an exciting month of screenings and festivals. The Dublin International Short Film and Music Festival celebrates short-form filmmaking and music, while the 17th Indian Film Festival of Ireland showcases contemporary and classic cinema from India.

The Adaptation Film Festival, taking place across Leitrim and Sligo, explores the relationship between literature and cinema, while the IFI Documentary Festival presents an engaging programme of Irish and international documentary filmmaking.

Literary events feature strongly throughout September. The Write By The Sea Literary Festival in Wexford brings together writers and readers for a weekend of discussion, debate and creativity.

The Kavanagh Weekend in Monaghan celebrates the life and legacy of Patrick Kavanagh through readings, performances and public events, highlighting the continued importance of poetry and literature in Irish cultural life.

RTÉ Supporting the Arts is proud to support and promote these events, helping audiences connect with the many artistic and cultural experiences taking place across Ireland this September.

We encourage everyone to explore, attend, and enjoy the wealth of creativity on offer this month. For more information, rte.ie/culture       

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