Donegal County Council Culture Division has presented its 18th programme of events for Culture Night, the all-island public event that celebrates culture, creativity, and the arts.
Taking place on Friday, 18th September, Culture Night is “One Night For All,” with events taking place across the county.
Commenting on this year’s event, Donegal County Council Arts Officer Traolach Ó Fionnáin said: “As Culture Night 2026 gets closer, Donegal is ready to host one of its most exciting and welcoming programmes yet.
“It’s a night for everyone to come together and celebrate the culture that makes Donegal unique.”
This year’s programme has a great selection of in-person events, from an evening in Glenveagh National Park and Donegal Castle, to performance trails, concerts, walking tours and exhibitions taking place across the county.
There are a host of events to celebrate Oíche Chultúir in our Gaeltacht areas too, which you can find online or in the programme.
Culture Night is a great night to bring all your friends or family together, as all events are completely free to attend and there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Please check the programme in advance to find out if booking is necessary for the events you hope to go to.
Inishowen Carnival Presents SPIRIT ANIMALS
In Bernard McGlinchey Town Park, Inishowen Carnival presents Spirit Animals.
This is a sculpture and performance trail exploring how ancient cultures mythologised the animals that lived around them; myths of shapeshifters with mystical powers, messengers from the Otherworld, and guardians of the land and forests.
The sculpture trail opens at 6pm, with performances at 8pm and 9pm.
On the Ted Ponsonby Stage in Bernard McGlinchey Town Park, the World Culture Open Air Performances return to celebrate Donegal’s multicultural community.
Performers from Ukraine, Ireland, South Africa and the Indian community will bring the Town Park amphitheatre to life with music, dance and song from 7pm to 8pm.
Each performance will offer a glimpse into the rich traditions and contemporary expressions of artists who now call Donegal home.
A Donegal and Poland Celebration
As part of the cultural programme marking Ireland’s Presidency of the EU, which sees County Donegal paired with Poland, the Inisowiacy Polish Folk Group will bring an evening of traditional dance, live music and colourful regional costumes to An Grianán Theatre Plaza.
The performance, from 7pm to 8pm, will be introduced by His Excellency Artur Michalski, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Ireland.
Culture Night at the Castle
New to the programme this year, Glenveagh Castle is opening late for Culture Night for a unique evening not to be missed.
You may also be interested in
Costumed characters will welcome visitors, live music will fill the castle and visitor centre, and guests can meet the castle’s friendly gardeners and get creative with nature.
The evening concludes with a performance from acclaimed fiddler Jack Houston, from 7pm to 8pm in the Audio Visual Theatre.
The Castle Tea Rooms and Nellie’s Restaurant will open late.
In Donegal Town, Donegal Castle presents Goladoo Ensemble & Friends for an evening of music by the celebrated blind harper and composer Turlough O’Carolan (1670–1738), running from 7pm to 8.30pm.
Donegal County Museum on the High Road marks the centenary of Rockwell Kent’s stay in the remote valley of Glenlough, near Gleann Cholm Cille, with the exhibition Rockwell Kent: An American Artist in Donegal.
Visitors can also encounter The Banshee (bean sí), Ireland’s supernatural harbinger brought to life by artist Cormac O’Kane.
A display of vintage and classic vehicles will also be on show outside the Museum, courtesy of the Donegal Vintage and Classic Car Club.
At the Regional Cultural Centre (RCC), the new exhibition The Rain Tells Us Everything brings together new work in RCC Gallery 2 and the Foyer, alongside Open Collection, which draws together artworks from public collections across Donegal.
The RCC also hosts family-friendly drop-ins, RCC Kids: Draw Yourself and RCC Kids: Mini Cinema, and an open rehearsal from the Donegal Youth Orchestra.
Choirs and Orchestra
In Conwal Parish Church, the Donegal Chamber Orchestra performs from 7pm to 8pm.
In St. Eunan’s Cathedral, Letterkenny, The Conwal Singers bring together over 60 choral singers for an evening of reflective choral music, joined by special guests The Donagh Choir from Carndonagh.
Meanwhile, in Donegal Town, The Bluestack Chorale, The Abbey Singers and EnCor Tirconaill will perform together in the local Presbyterian Church.
South Donegal and Inishowen Events
The Edge of the Atlantic, Heart and Sound of the Arts, will transform Buncrana’s Main Street into a living gallery and open stage after 6pm.
In Donegal Town, the Donegal Railway Heritage Museum presents an evening of readings with the Tír Conaill Writing Group, and Station Sessions, an intimate performance from folk duo Without Willow in Coach 58.
In Ballyshannon, the Old Barracks Studios and Gallery, an artist-run space opens its doors to the public.
Other events in this year’s programme include an event at Cló & Co in Ramelton and The Cottage at the End of the Universe a group exhibition of art, film and other worlds inspired by science fiction, at The Cottage Bar.
There’s also Behind The Scenes In The Library, where over 30 years of material gathered by library staff on Donegal-associated authors and articles goes on display.
For more information on the full programme, visit http://www.culturenight.ie/donegal