Dublin’s New Year Festival set to light up the city and beyond

It’s the party of the year, and in a city that loves to party, that’s saying something. Dublin’s dynamic New Year Festival (30 December – 1 January) sees out the old year and rings in the new with a programme of ticketed and free events across the city and beyond. 

The festival kicks off with a high-spirited parade through Dublin’s streets featuring dancers and performers.  

Historic Dublin Castle is the centre of activities for the main festival events. On 30 December it hosts an afternoon of family events including street performers and face painting followed by a live music concert with acts including Cormac Begley and Niamh Reagan.  

And on the big day itself – New Year’s Eve, 31 December – the castle will be the backdrop for the Midnight Moment Countdown concert headlined by Cian Ducrot. The Irish singer songwriter will wrap up a phenomenal 2024 when he watched his debut album Victory soar to the top of the albums chart in both Ireland and the UK, saw his biggest Irish tour to date sell out in a matter of minutes and performed two sold-out headline shows in Dublin and Cork. 

Cian Ducrot will be joined by special guests Dubliner Aby Coulibaly, who supported Coldplay at Croke Park, international viral sensations Kabin Crew & Lisdoonvarna Crew, and singer songwriter Saibh Skelly. 

A family friendly matinee countdown event takes place in the afternoon to give young revellers a chance to cheer in 2025.  

Heralding in the New Year, a spectacular pyrotechnic and laser display will light up the Dublin city skies. This year for the first time there will also be firework displays in the villages of Howth and Dún Laoghaire, which sit on the north and south of Dublin Bay and will take place at 8pm. The fireworks will be the culmination of the New Year’s Eve festivities in the villages that will also include live music, DJs, street entertainment and food hubs. 2023, NYF Festival, Lights and Fireworks, Dublin City

Howth and Dún Laoghaire are key stops on the Dublin Coastal Trail and are easily reached by train from the city centre offering an alternative to the New Year’s Eve crowds in the city. 

The Dublin Coastal Trail stretches from the harbour village of Skerries in the north to Killiney in the south. It passes through 11 picturesque towns and villages where way-finding signs highlight key attractions and experiences that include medieval castles, heritage sites, stunning sea views, and thrilling water-based activities. 

On New Year’s Day the festivities in Dublin city continue with the free concert of traditional Irish music in Meeting House Square. Some of Ireland’s best musicians, including John Francis Flynn and will perform in an uplifting event that will welcome 2025. 

Over the three festival days there will also be a Dublin city music trail in venues across the capital, while informal trad sessions will take place in pubs and on the streets.