Festivals
Dublin Festivals
Dublin hosts a variety of festivals throughout the year, from music and book festivals to the incredible Pride Parade. Here's a comprehensive list of events happening in Dublin throughout the year.
January
TradFest (22-26 Jan)
Showcasing the best of both Irish and international folk artists, Tradfest is a great way to blow the January blues away. Concerts, workshops and sessions will get you toe-tapping across a great five-day festival. Watch out for free events on the calendar, because they sell out fast. Learn More!
February
Dublin Racing Festival (1 & 2 Feb)
Dublin's Racing Festival held at Leopardstown, promises to deliver the ultimate social and racing experience. Learn More!
Mother Tongues (21 & 22 Feb)
Mother Tongues Festival is the largest festival celebrating linguistic diversity through the arts in Ireland. Its mission is to showcase the country’s rich artistic and cultural tapestry, and connect people through the power of language. Taking place in Tallaght, Dublin, the Festival encourages everyone to learn something new and have fun while celebrating their mother tongue and the rich kaleidoscope of languages spoken in Ireland. Learn More!
Dublin International Film Festival (22 - 02 March)
Since 2003, the DIFF has taken pride of place as Ireland’s main film festival. Over two weeks, locals have the opportunity to enjoy thought-provoking, ground-breaking and often award-winning cinema. Plenty of famous faces are on-hand to host events and run Q&As too. Learn More!
March
St. Patrick's Festival (14-17 March)
The largest celebration of Irish Culture and Irish Heritage in the world takes place in Dublin on 15th to 17th March. The final day of celebrations ends with a genuinely bucket-list worthy adventure in Ireland’s capital city, the National St. Patrick's Day Parade. Check out all the events taking place over the Bank Holiday Weekend! Learn More!
May
Dublin Dance Festival (13 - 24 May)
Every year in May, DDF showcases the best Irish and international dance shows at various locations in the city for a growing and changing audience. Dublin Dance Festival brings contemporary artists and audiences together to create and share extraordinary dance experiences and to deepen engagement with Dance in Ireland. Learn More!
International Literature Festival (16 - 25 May)
International Literature Festival Dublin (ILFD) is Ireland’s leading literary event bringing together locals and visitors alike to delve into books of Irish and international acclaim. The festival celebrates an island of storytellers in a city where books are treasured. Learn More!
Forbidden Fruit Festival (31 - 01 June)
Dublin's first and longest running city-centre festival takes place at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. Learn More!
June
Pride (20 - 28 June)
Dublin’s yearly LGBTQ+ festival takes place every June. The parade of floats, dancers and members of the community is guaranteed to be full of energy and colour. This festival of togetherness shows Dublin in its best light. And the fact that it takes place in early summer usually means the sun is shining. You can find out more about diversity in Dublin here. Dublin Pride 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of a landmark year for LGBTQ+ rights in Irish History. This year we celebrate 10 years since achieving Marriage Equality by popular vote, 10 years since the Gender Recognition Act and 10 years since the Children and Family Relationships Act! - a truly momentous year for Pride Festival & Parade Dublin. Learn More!
Forbidden Fruit (June Bank Holiday)
This first big festival of the summer takes place every June Bank Holiday weekend in the gorgeous grounds of Kilmainham’s 17th century Royal Hospital. Laurent Garnier and Elbow were recent headliners at the festival. Learn More!
July
Longitude (5 & 6 July)
The biggest music festival in Dublin descends on leafy Marlay Park each July. Over one weekend, it welcomes both international and Irish acts, along with thousands of fans. Past headliners have included Kraftwerk, Foals, The Chemical Brothers, Hozier, Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd and Solange. Learn More!
Trinity Summer Series
Every summer, Trinity College hosts a series of gigs slap-bang in the middle of the city centre. All while the buses and trams continue to trundle by on the other side of the wall. Learn More!
August
Electric Picnic 2024 - Weekend Camping (29 - 31 Aug)
Electric Picnic is an annual arts-and-music festival which has been staged since 2004 at Stradbally Hall in Stradbally, County Laois, Ireland. Learn More!
September
Dublin Fringe Festival (6 - 21 Sep)
Dublin Fringe Festival is a curated, multidisciplinary arts festival and a year-round artist support organisation. It’s a playful and provocative new work made by Irish and international artists of vision in an annual celebration all over the city. From form-busting theatre productions, electric dance performance, immersive installations to epic party nights out, every event is curated to ignite your mind and leave an indelible mark on your soul. Learn More!
November
Dublin Book Festival
Now in its 15th year, the Dublin Book Festival is a celebration of all things related to literature and lore. It’s the perfect festival for a UNESCO City of Literature. Each November, locals and visitors to the city can attend exhibitions, events, talks, tours and readings, many of which are free of charge. Learn More!
December
Winter Lights & Christmas Markets
Every year, Dublin's atmospheric Winter Lights spectacular introduces the festive season with a bang! The warm glowing lights ensure the city gets into the Christmas spirit. Learn More!
Why choose Carlton Dublin Airport for your stay?
We are conveniently located next to the airport and just five minutes from the motorways. Carlton Dublin Airport provides a complimentary 24 hour airport shuttle buss and electric charging points for guests arriving by car along with competitive car parking rates!
If you're looking to unwind Carlton hotel is conveniently located on the main bus corridor to Dublin City Centre. Just outside the hotel guests can hop on any of the below lines and be in the heart of the city centre in 15mins: 16A, 41 A/B/C, 33A/B and 46X. Timetables, Route Planners and Real Time information can be found on DublinBus.ie.
We offer family rooms, ensuring everyone in your family can join and enjoy the holiday together! Carlton Hotel Dublin Airport offers you family accommodation with all the essential comforts of home.
Enhance your experience with an incredible dinner at Runway 28, our Rooftop Bar & Restaurant. Situated on a rooftop terrace with exclusive front-row seats to Dublin's busiest airport runway, our restaurant is all about giving you a memorable dining experience. We're open for dinner from Wednesday to Sunday and serving brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Join us and savor the delight where incredible food meets inspiring views! Learn More!