Culture Night returns to Cork City this September with a host of events and activities
Lord Mayor Cllr Damian Boylan with Bus Éireann representative Farai Tawanda, Local Swing Dancer Rosie Roccaforte, musicians from Cork Light Orchestra Olive Vaughan, Neal Dunnigan, Virginia Giglio and local swing dancer Clodagh Hurley launching Culture Night Cork City. Picture: Darragh Kane
Cork City is preparing for this year’s Culture Night by inviting people to come together for a night of free cultural discovery, creativity and connection.
Presented by Cork City Council, Culture Night returns on September 18 and is part of a nationwide event led by The Arts Council.
The Cork City 2026 programme will span music, theatre, dance, visual art, literature, film, spoken word, workshops, exhibitions, Irish-language events, family experiences, and late-night activities.
Speaking about this year’s Culture Night in Cork City, Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Damian Boylan, welcomed the announcement, saying: “Culture Night is that one evening a year across the country when galleries, theatres and artists’ workshops welcome visitors to explore the culture of their home place.
“Cork City is so fortunate to have a huge number and range of talented artists, performers and makers, who on ‘Oíche Cultúr’ invite you to view and experience their work.
“See the range of events available, and know that whether you visit them often or never have before, you are welcome. Tour the city, drop by and try something new and enjoy seeing Cork city through the artist’s eye.”
Chair of the Arts Council, Maura McGrath, said: “Culture Night is made possible by an extraordinary collective effort in every part of the country. The Arts Council is proud to work in partnership with local authorities and with the artists, venues, libraries, galleries, theatres, studios, cultural organisations, community groups and organisers who bring such care, creativity and local knowledge to the programme each year.”
McGrath said that what makes Culture Night so special is that it meets people where they are and “creates moments of welcome and discovery” in towns, cities, villages and rural communities across the country.
Free hop-on-hop-off Culture Buses will operate from City Hall across three dedicated routes, connecting audiences with Culture Night events on routes reaching to the North, East and West of the city.
From music and dance to food, visual art, local history and community celebrations, Culture Night will offer a programme of events and experiences across Cork City, with highlights including: The Devils in the Dance Hall at City Hall; Culture Night at the English Market; The Irish Baroque Orchestra at the Triskel Arts Centre and the I Want To Talk About Ireland exhibition by artist-in-residence Sarah Long at the Triksel’s SAMPLE Project Space; the Barrack Street Band and Friends at Elizabeth Fort; and art at Wandesford Quay; and the 2FM Rising X Culture Night Live at St Luke’s.
- For full programme details, visit www.CorkCity.ie/CultureNight and www.CultureNight.ie.
