RTÉ Supporting the Arts  

RTÉ is Supporting 20 Arts and Cultural Events all over Ireland this April 

RTÉ is proud to support an exciting month of arts and cultural events taking place across Ireland and beyond. Music lovers are well catered for with an outstanding range of performances and festivals. 

This month offers a rich array of literary celebration and discovery. Galway hosts the internationally acclaimed Cúirt International Festival of Literature, and Poetry Day Ireland invites readers and writers nationwide to engage with the spoken and written word. The prestigious Dublin Literary Award 2026 will announce its much-anticipated shortlist, while the Irish Writers Centre opens submissions globally for its International Debut Novel Competition, with the final event taking place in Dublin. 

Dublin also welcomes the Wigmore Series Dublin presented by the Royal Irish Academy of Music, while New Music Dublin continues to champion innovative contemporary composition. Cutting-edge sounds also take centre stage at the Music Current Festival in Dublin. Beyond the capital, choral excellence shines in Cork with the Cork International Choral Festival, and jazz fans can celebrate 20 years of vibrant improvisation at the Ballydehob Jazz Festival 2026. Nationwide, Ball Nights – A Celebration of West Kerry Music tours traditional sounds to audiences across Ireland and Chamber Choir Ireland continues its Spring–Summer 2026 season. Meanwhile, the New Ross Piano Festival – 20th Anniversary Concert marks a landmark celebration in Wexford. 

Theatre and performance art continue to push boundaries across the country. The Gate Theatre stages Poor by Katriona O’Sullivan, and the Pavilion Theatre presents The House Must Win, a gripping new work blending drama with social commentary. Continuing nationwide, CISEACH | An Embodied Manifesto brings powerful dance and movement to audiences across Ireland. The Five Lamps Arts Festival also returns to Dublin, igniting the city with theatre, visual arts, music, and community celebration. 

Visual art takes centre-stage across several major platforms this month. In Dublin, Photography Museum Ireland presents the Taylor Wessing Irish Photo Prize, showcasing exceptional portrait photography from across the island. The National Gallery of Ireland invites visitors into the imaginative world of William Blake: The Age of Romantic Fantasy. Supporting artists directly, the Incognito Art Sale for Jack and Jill brings together Irish and international creators in a unique online fundraising exhibition. 

RTÉ Supporting the Arts is committed to supporting artists, audiences and cultural organisations across the country, helping to bring the arts to wider communities. April’s extensive programme reflects the strength, imagination and diversity of Ireland’s creative sector, and RTÉ Supporting the Arts is proud to help amplify these cultural experiences nationwide. 

This April, RTÉ Supporting the Arts invites you to immerse yourself in Ireland’s vibrant cultural landscape. We encourage everyone to explore, attend, and enjoy the wealth of creativity on offer this month. For more information, rte.ie/culture        

Events supported by the RTÉ Supporting the Arts scheme this April: