Vibrant Lineup for Culture Vultures in Dublin this Winter
Winter is an ideal time for culture vultures to visit Dublin. From energetic trad sessions to sparkling festivals welcoming the New Year, there are countless events guaranteed to make a city visit special.
While it’s wise always to be prepared for the occasional rain shower in Ireland, there’s a notable can-do attitude amongst Dubliners during the winter months. Having an umbrella to hand helps, as does knowing there’s always a welcoming café, cosy pub or chic boutique nearby to shelter in.
Whether you’re into music, art, literature or history, we’ve got some of the best events to check out on your trip to Dublin this winter. The only issue will be which one to pick first.
The Dead at the Museum of Literature Ireland
Wander around the streets on either side of the Liffey and you’ll discover a connection to writer James Joyce, who found infinite inspiration in the Irish capital. Joyce’s short story masterpiece of a short story The Dead has a particular resonance with wintry Dublin, being set at a dinner party in the city on a snowy 6 January.
This winter, leading Irish theatre companies ANU and Landmark are bringing a special immersive production of The Dead to the Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI) at 85 St Stephen’s Green, from 22 November to 12 January.
The story will unfold across some of the normally unseen rooms in MoLI (a building which dates to the 18th century). Two of Ireland’s finest actors, Marty Rea and Maeve Fitzgerald, will star as Gabriel and Gretta Conroy, the couple at the centre of The Dead.
It’s hard to imagine a more perfect location to tell this stunning story – just make sure to bring tissues for that moving final scene. Tickets are €65/€30 (concession).
Dublin Book Festival
Whether you’re a Joycean devotee wanting to visit the Forty Foot swimming spot (where Buck Mulligan takes a dip in the opening chapter of Ulysses), or a Sally Rooney fan eager to tread Trinity College’s cobbles, Dublin offers loads for literature lovers. Designated a UNESCO City of Literature in 2010, it’s long been home to brilliant writers such as Roddy Doyle and recent Booker Prize-winner Paul Lynch.
A must-do for bookworms is the Dublin Book Festival, which runs from 6 to 10 November. Spread throughout a range of venues, which have included Chester Beatty Library and the National Botanic Gardens in previous years, it offers free and ticketed events, panel discussions, walking tours, writing workshops and family events.
Top Irish writers including Anne Enright and Mike McCormack are among those who’ve participated in previous years, so keep an eye on the website for its 2024 programme announcement.
The Jonathan Swift Festival
While rambling through Dublin you’ll notice the grand Georgian terraces on both the north and south sides of the city – signs of a transformative period in the 18th century. One of the figures most associated with the Georgian era was the Anglo-Irish satirist and writer Jonathan Swift, who has an entire festival dedicated to him in November.
Swift is best known for penning the novel Gulliver’s Travels, but his multifaceted career included becoming Dean of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in 1713. The Jonathan Swift Festival, which runs from 22 to 27 November, pays tribute to Swift while also exploring the history of Georgian Dublin through live music, discussions, building tours and talks.
Regardless of how knowledgeable you are about Swift in advance, you’ll learn plenty about both him and Dublin’s past during this festival. The details of the 2024 programme will be revealed soon.
Dublin Gallery Weekend
Is there anything better than discovering a side of the city that’s new to you? While there has always been a thriving commercial gallery scene in Dublin, 2023 saw a specific weekend dedicated to it with the inaugural Dublin Gallery Weekend.
Taking its cues from similar buzzy events in Berlin and London, last year’s event was a big hit with galleries joyfully opening their doors to showcase the best of Irish and international art, alongside a range of creative events.
The celebration returns this year from 8 to 10 November, with 10 leading galleries presenting work, alongside a new showpiece central exhibition. Plus, there’ll be gallery brunches, live concerts, screenings, artist talks and workshops. All in all, a plethora of events to show off Dublin’s artistic side.
New Year’s Festival Dublin
The heart of Dublin transforms into a carnival of colour and entertainment each year for the New Year's Festival. Running from 30 December to 1 January, it typically sees some of the city’s most prominent locations, such as the historic Dublin Castle, lit up to ring in the new year.
Alongside outdoor live music events, there will be family-friendly festivities, street performers a-plenty, food and drink stalls, and everything you could need to create New Year’s memories with loved ones.
This year’s line-up is now live on the official website.
TradFest 2025
If your visit to Dublin won’t be complete without a night tapping your toes to live fiddle-playing, then TradFest, running from 22 to 26 January 2025, is for you. Curious ears will enjoy how the festival pays tribute to Ireland’s long history of traditional and folk music, while making room for the emerging musicians reinterpreting these genres.
It’s the perfect fusion of new and old and comes as Irish trad is having a particularly big moment internationally, thanks to bands like Lankum and The Mary Wallopers.
Whether you want to catch an intimate session, enjoy a gig in a bustling city centre venue, or check out the latest talent, you’ll find much to love among the 30 artists playing across 100 different events.
Rising rootsy stars Dug, talented folkster Aoife Scott, and two-time Grammy Award nominee Eric Bibb are among the varied and vibrant 2025 line-up.