Cork County Council will present more than 150 free events across towns, villages and islands throughout the county as part of Culture Night 2026.
From a spectacular fire show at Mallow Castle, to contemporary traditional music in the stunning setting of Gougane Barra Church, the richness of Cork county’s artistic talent and cultural heritage will be celebrated on Friday, 18th September.
This year’s programme places a special spotlight on musical talent from across the county, bringing performances to unexpected and unique locations. In Skibbereen, Ar n’Áit will take over the town with performances at The Rock outdoor amphitheatre and its intimate venue space, showcasing Congolese rumba, Afrobeat and live electronic music.
Niall McCabe will take to the stage in the historic setting of St Mary’s Church, Youghal; Leevy, the acclaimed five-piece band from the Múscraí Gaeltacht, will perform in O’Mahony’s Bar, Watergrasshill; at Gougane Barra, renowned musician David Murphy will perform traditional music on pedal steel guitar in one of Cork’s most iconic landscapes, while in Schull, singer-songwriter Ger Wolfe will perform in An Tigín.
Classical music enthusiasts can enjoy performances by Kantos Quartet at St James’s Church, Mallow and the Irish Guitar Quartet at Briery Gap, Macroom. The programme also features an impressive line-up of contemporary Cork artists, including How I Became a Wave, As If I Always Knew, The Fynches, Fixity and Áine Duffy.
CIORCAL CAINTE GATHERINGS
The Irish language will feature strongly throughout the programme, with events including a bilingual production of Billy Goats Gruff, Puipéid sa Pháirc and a range of ciorcal cainte gatherings. To celebrate the EU presidency, Cork County’s rich cultural diversity will also be reflected through a series of talks, demonstrations and workshops led by artists from across the European Union who now call Cork home.
Other programme highlights include at Mallow Castle, where audiences can enjoy circus performances, bilingual children’s theatre and a spectacular fire show in the castle grounds. Sirius Arts Centre will open its doors late into the night an event that celebrates diversity and inclusion within contemporary Irish culture. The Night Market on Cobh Promenade will feature arts and crafts stalls, food vendors and live DJ sets.
FREE EVENTS
Coordinated by Cork County Council and funded by the Arts Council, Culture Night shines a light on the diverse, dynamic and creative communities that make Cork County a leading cultural destination. The event provides an opportunity for artists, performers, venues and cultural organisations to engage with new audiences and showcase their work in a welcoming and accessible way.
Culture Night Cork County 2026 will feature pop-up performances, poetry readings, live music, children’s workshops, exhibitions and short-form theatre and so much more in locations across the county. The events all take place on Friday, 18th September, from 4pm until late. All events are free to attend, although advance booking is required for some.
Full programme details are available at www.culturenight.ie.
