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Dublin Theatre Festival Guide
Europe's oldest specialised theatre festival — how it started, how it's programmed today, and how to plan a visit around it.
By Ireland Spots Team
Photo: Smirkybec / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Long before Dublin had most of its current festivals, it had this one — a theatre festival old enough to have opened with Ireland still finding its footing as a young tourist destination.
A festival older than most of Dublin's others
Dublin Theatre Festival was founded by theatre impresario Brendan Smith in 1957, and its first edition ran that May. It's Europe's oldest specialised theatre festival, created in part to extend Ireland's tourist season into its quieter months. Its guiding idea from the start — bringing major international theatre to Dublin while giving space to new Irish work — is still how it's programmed today.
What it looks like now
The festival now runs each autumn, typically over several weeks across September and October, with productions staged in venues across Dublin city centre. Programming mixes new Irish theatre with international touring productions, often including work from some of Dublin's long-established stages and venues that have hosted the festival over the decades.
The specific line-up — which shows, which venues, which dates — is announced fresh each year, so check the official programme rather than assuming past years' details still apply.
This year's confirmed dates
Planning tips
- The festival runs for several weeks, not just a weekend — you don't need to see everything on one trip.
- In-demand shows can sell out, especially premieres and limited-run productions; book ahead rather than relying on walk-up tickets.
- Venues are spread across the city centre, so check the walking distance between shows if you're planning to see more than one in a day.
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
How old is Dublin Theatre Festival?
It was founded by theatre impresario Brendan Smith in 1957, making it Europe's oldest specialised theatre festival.
When is Dublin Theatre Festival held?
It now runs each autumn, typically over several weeks in late September and October. Its original 1957 edition ran in May — the timing has shifted over its history.
What kind of shows does it programme?
A mix of new Irish productions and international touring theatre, staged across multiple venues in Dublin city centre. The specific line-up changes every year.
Practical details last verified 23 September 2026. Source: https://dublintheatrefestival.ie/
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